The Latest Gossip

Unfortunately, many of us would click to this post because of the title – we want to hear the latest gossip.  Also unfortunately, many will click away when the realize this post is about participating in gossip.

Of course, we’ve all participated in gossip – either giving or receiving it.  There’s no denying that there’s something very intriguing about hearing the latest story about someone.  We all know it’s wrong, but I wonder if sometimes we rationalize our participation:

• “I only told so & so in order to have more people praying about the situation.”
• “You know if it’s really true then we need to protect ourselves against that person.”
• “I didn’t want to tell, but they kept asking so I felt I needed to…after all, they’re not going to tell anyone else.”
• “Well I didn’t know they were going to tell me that stuff, and once they started telling me I couldn’t just tell them to stop.”

But here’s what God says about gossip (all from the New Living Translation):

• Gossip causes anger – “a gossiping tongue causes anger” (Proverbs 25:23)
• Gossip is rated up there with “…greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception & malicious behaviour…” (Romans 1:29)
• Gossip ruins your reputation (& the one you are gossiping about) “Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your reputation.” (Proverbs 25:10)
• Gossip hinders your ability to worship. “Who may enter your sanctuary, Lord?…Those who refuse to gossip…” (see all of Psalm 15).

What is the result of gossip?  As far as I can tell, only one thing – hurt.  In some form or another, gossip hurts.

It hurts the one who is gossiped about – indeed, it can be devastating to a reputation, to a career, to a friendship, to a person’s other relationships, to their own personal & emotional outlook – gossip can be far more hurtful than we really think it is when we are participating.

It also hurts the one who participates in it – something I think we often forget when that is us.  It also hurts our reputation (don’t you know who the local gossips are in your church or workplace? And you probably don’t think too positively of them, unless you are a gossip, too).  It can limit our relationship with God, cause us to be used in spreading lies, and put us in a position of great embarrassment when we discover we were misinformed or uninformed.

Gossip is hurtful on so many levels – there is nothing good about it.  Perhaps God knew what He was doing when he included it in lists of sins that we all consider heinous.

One final thought.  If you are in a position of leadership – at church or in the workplace – participating in gossip can be that much more devastating.  In fact, if you are in some way connected to a person in leadership, it can also be that much more devastating.  You carry influence by default.  People want to believe you.  People trust you.  And when you talk and people listen, they are more likely to pass it on.

Don’t.  Don’t risk talking about something you know nothing about.  Don’t risk hurting yourself and others with your sin.  Don’t drag others through your mud by gossiping to them.

Just don’t.  Please!