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Gossip / Talebearer
Posted : 23 Jan, 2009 11:52 AM
Hi Everyone,
I have been asked to do a study on an area that all of us from time to time need to be reminded of. This area is called Gossip.
What is gossip?
Gossip is what is also known in scripture as "Talebearing" & "Whisperer" in the Old Testament and Whispering" in the New Testament.
Talebearing: H7400 רכיל (Hebrew) râkîyl
pronounced raw-keel'
From H7402; a scandal monger (as travelling about): - slander, carry tales, talebearer.
Whispering: G5587 (Greek)
psithurismos ψιθυρισμός
pronounced psith-oo-ris-mos'
From a derivative of ψίθος psithos (a whisper; by implication a slander; probably akin to G5574); whispering, that is, secret detraction: - whispering.
It is spreading rumors about a person or persons that is in a less than positive light. It makes no difference if the rumor(s) are true or not. It is a behavior that is sinful and generally unkind. It may even be considered as "bearing a False Witness" against someone if the rumor happens to be untrue.
But you know what? Listening to Gossip makes us just as sinfully guilty as the person who is doing the gossiping.
There is a modern saying that comes to mind:
"Great Minds Discuss Ideas; Average Minds Discuss Events; Small Minds Discuss People."
Doesn't that seem to be the case? When we reduce ourselves to talking about people in a negative light are we not being "small minded"?
Pro 11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
Pro 18:8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.
Pro 20:19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
Pro 26:20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
Pro 16:28 A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
2Cor 12:20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; NKJV
Gossiping is nothing less than destructive.
Do you know that Praying for someone with others could be a form of Gossip? There are also those who gossip under the guise of "Prayer". Have you ever prayed with someone where it seems they were doing nothing more than gossiping about someone in the prayer. This is very common place, unfortunately. When we pray for people we must make sure that the person we are praying for has given us expressed permission to pray for them with others. When people come to me and ask me to pray for them and their circumstances I always ask them if they want me to have them prayed for among others. If they yes please do then I will, if they say no please keep this to yourself, then I do. If I forgot to ask them I keep it between me and God.
You know James had some things to say about the "tongue", that little member of our body that can destroy people's lives.
James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.
James 3:3 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. NKJV
So we see that our tongues are dangerous and can cause a great deal of harm. Let us briddle our tongues and not gossip about others.
I remember the words my mother told me when I was young. "If you don't have anything nice to say about some, don't say anything at all."
Blessings!
In Christ,
Walter
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