Psst!...So you into Gossip? Lemme share some secrets.
Where can we find virtue in sin?
Let's look and see if we can get sins approved...
gos·sip [góssip ] noun (plural gos·sips)
1. conversation about personal matters: conversation about personal or intimate rumors or facts, especially when malicious
2. casual conversation: informal and chatty conversation or writing about recent and often personal events
3. habitual talker: somebody given to spreading personal or intimate information about other people
Proverbs 20:19 A gossip is a revealer of secrets; so do not mix with him who flatters with his lips. MKJV
Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. KJV
Pro 11:13 A tale-bearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Lev 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the LORD.
Pro 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.
Pro 26:22 The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Needless to say, gossip and tale bearing are one and the same.
When we think of gossip, we think of the little old church ladies sitting on their porches with nothing better to do than keep up with all the trash they can among the family, the neighborhood, the church, and the community. They justify their SIN by ademently enforcing all of the secrets and confidentialities as FACT. Yet the truth of the matter is:
YOU ARE BACKBITING!
YOU LACK INTEGRITY!!
YOU HAVE TOO MUCH FREETIME ON YOUR HANDS!!!
Now after reminding you of what you already know but have attempted to justify, let me offer you a remedy for your MISTAKE....
When someone wants to share secrets with you, "he said" and "she said", then and there say, "Wait. Wait. I don't feel like we need to talk about them like this. Let's pray for them and then let's pray that we can forgive and forget."
People do tend to have too much freetime on their hands. Let's pull together as mature saints and refuse to go searching for permissions to sin. Let's begin teaching others how to use their time more efficiently. Let's refuse to gossip.
Jeremy "Dex" Brown (2002)