I can’t find anything good to say about gossip. It hurts people, can ruin friendships, and can unnecessarily and seriously change a person’s life. What is gossip? Online definitions are: Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature; A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts or trivial, chatty talk or writing. Who gossips? Almost everyone passes on information about others and sometime exaggerate or sensationalize what they are passing along. When and why do we gossip? It is common to gossip when we are idle, bored, feel somewhat inadequate and put someone in a bad light to make us feel superior to them. Sometimes we gossip to pass the time, or become caught in a web when others around us start to talk about others.
This is pure speculation on my part, but maybe God got so many prayers from victims of gossip that He included it in His commandments: "You
shall not bear false witness against your neighbor". What good does it do to the problems and heartaches of people to add your comments, predictions and judgments? "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" was Jesus’ answer to gossip and judgment.
In my encounters with teens, I notice that they love to gossip. It is a delicate balance today to be a teen, and I see many teens, both boys and girls -tremendously hurt, as only emotion-heightened teens can be, by the weapon of gossip. Most gossips are untruths, they spread around like fire, and even end up on the internet. Do the perpetrators have any idea of the heartbreak and helplessness that the victims feel when lies are told about them publicly? Would anyone like it? What does Jesus tell us in the Book of Luke, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
I walk away from gossip. The old adage, "Don’t believe anything you hear and half of what you see" is good advice. Many times, communication changes - as in the telephone game - when you relay things. And sometimes, even when you hear things yourself, you may have misunderstood the actual content of what someone says. What good does it do to repeat a misconstrued fact?
And what does the Bible teach us about gossip? Leviticus 19:16 - "Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord."
Proverbs 18:8 - The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
Proverbs 20:19 - A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.
Proverbs 11:13 - A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
Proverbs 16:28 - A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
Proverbs 25:23 - As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks.
Proverbs 26:20 - Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
Proverbs 26:21 - As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
Psalm 34:13 - Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Many years ago, a well-known newspaper printed "I am Nobody’s Friend" on a full back page. I saved it for a long time; it had such an effect on me that it changed how I felt about repeating things or listening to gossip. It is worth keeping or at least in the back of your mind….
"’My name is Gossip. I have no respect for justice. I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age. The more I am quoted the more I am believed. My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name or face. To track me down is impossible. The harder I try, the more elusive I become. I am nobody’s friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same. I topple governments and wreck marriages. I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion. I make innocent people cry in their pillows. Even my name hisses. I am called Gossip. I make headlines and headaches.’ Anonymous
Before you repeat a story, ask yourself: Is it harmless? Is it necessary? If it isn’t, don’t repeat it."
