Gossipers and Busybodies–Slander is the work of Satan-Sadly, it is even among the brethren…
ROMANS 1:28 “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 1:29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 1:30 Slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 1:31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these things but also approve of those who practice them.”
The Apostle Paul paints a picture of those who have rejected the Lord and have embraced a lifestyle of sin. He makes it clear that God condemns such evil behavior. “They persist in doing these things, knowing that those who do such things deserve death” (Rom 1:32). As Paul described this, we might expect to find vile things as greed, deceit, adultery, murder and so forth, But please take note of the other inclusions, especially the mention of “gossip and slander.” Paul said that gossips and bad-mouthers are in the same league as murderers, sexual perverts, and God haters and that such sins were worthy of a death sentence!
“Slander”comes from the word “Devil.” According to the Dictionary, slander means “malicious talk; to spread damaging information; to defame; to speak ill of.” Slander is the work of the Devil, and those who slander are on his team NOT Gods. The Bible says that Satan is called the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10).
Are you an accuser of the brethren too?? If so, you are being used of the Devil! According to scripture, any Christian who’s mouth is out of control does not have a right relationship with God. WOW! What a powerful statement. To me, this means anyone who continues to talk about another person in a negative-non glorifiy way, does not have a “real” relationship with God. Some ladies perhaps, are just insecure about themselves and therefore feel need to bring others down in order to build themselves up. I have expierenced this lately myself. Insecurity in ones self will lead to destruction.
If anyone considers himself a “Christ follower” and does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless (James 1:26) According to the dictionary, “gossip” means “To indulge in idle talk or rumors about others; spreading of sensational stories.” The dictionary defines it as “Idle, or malicious talk about others.” As we can see, gossip is a close cousin to slander, and God’s Word places both in the same cupboard as murder and other wickedness… sins worthy of death.
So let me ask you….
As a Christian…. do you occasionally slip up and commit a murder here or there? Or how about theft… do you occasionally burglarize a home or steal things from the store? A Christian lifestyle doesn’t behave that way. How about gossip or slander? Do you engage in idle talk about others? Do you participate in bad-mouthing others in order to build yourself up? According to the Bible… which sin is less severe? Murder or gossip?
Paul said, BOTH are sins equally worthy of death.Peter, also used murder as a comparison with another, sometimes under-rated sin. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters (1 Peter 4:15). Notice that a “busybody” is placed in the same company as murderers, thieves, and evildoers.The dictionary defines a busybody as a meddler, a person who seeks confidential information about others… a snoop…to take information and use it against them at a later more convient time. A busybody is another close relative to gossip… a person who meddles in the affairs of others. A busybody is the investigator for the gossips, seeking to uncover details and to whisper the latest news in real life to ALL the people they know or even online.
Sometimes busybodies are persons who have too much time on their hands, with nothing better to do than to talk too much. They get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house sort of speak. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to (1 Tim. 5:13). Betraying confidences when ever, and where ever they get the chance and covering it up, saying–I didn’t know it was in confidence. Shame on them who do and say these things!
Anything which is placed in the same category as murder must be a serious sin, something that should not be taken lightly. Some ladies don’t seem to think gossip is wrong. They are obsessed busybodies, gossips, and bad-mouthers, and have caused irreparable damage to the brethren. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts” (Prov. 26:22).
“Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Prov. 26:22). Sisters and Brothers who have needed our love, forgiveness and encouragement have been mutilated by gossip and evil talk. No wonder gossip is equal to murder. It is nothing less than verbal rape and assassination!!
Gossip is wicked and so very sinful… a disease of corruption from the mouth. Gossips use their mouth as a weapon, a weapon which is always aimed at people to fulfill Satan’s desires to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). “With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor” (Prov. 11:9). Gossip is an enemy to God and everything called holy — a cancer which spreads a deadly infection to the body of Christ. Not only did Paul place a gossip in the same league with murderers and sexual deviates, but Jesus warned that for those who would offend his little ones, it would be better for them to be bound with a millstone and drowned in the sea (Mark 9:42).
Surely, a harsh and horrible punishment awaits those unrepentant gossips who harm followers of Jesus.
(How to recognize Gossip)
Gossip is one of the most dangerous sins because it is so subtle… many are unable to recognize it. Be on alert against gossip whenever you hear of “secret information” or if you hear anyone else’s name is used in a conversation, or more subtle hints such as, “I know a person” or, a “friend of mine” or, “someone I know”
Gossip exists whenever persons “talk about others” in less than a favorable way.
The root of gossip is negativeness, judgementalism, and pure and evil slander. Avoid associating with people who gossip “A gossip betrays a confidence!!! Avoid a man who talks too much” (Prov. 20:19). You probably know the saying: “If you can’t say something good about others, don’t say anything at all.”
Gossip often masquerades as “concern” for others. Gossip is not sincerely concerned about solving a problem, only in talking about it.“A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Prov. 16:28). A gossip thrives on the negative, the controversial, and the sensational.
Gossip is like a spider looking for a prey to lure into their trap of gossiping. They will disclose everything you shared with them to everyone they come in contact with. Their house of worship, their work place, there friends in real life and their internet friends. Please be sure to avoid revealing anything to a person who gossips and bad mouths others.. they can’t be trusted. “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Prov. 11:13).
Gossip is as sinful as murder and will suffer the same consequences unless there is repentance (Rom. 1:32). · God holds you accountable to your words (Matt. 12:36-37). · The person who gossips to you about others, also gossips to others about you. Gossip masks as pretentious concerns for others. Gossip. Gossip always distorts and exaggerates, and is never a reliable source of truth. Those who gossip & slander are not in right fellowship with God (Rom. 1:28-32). Those who gossip rarely get answers to prayer, and often face persistent, unexplainable problems (Psalms 66:18, Prov. 21:23, Prov. 6:12-15).
If you have been a gossiper, confess this as sin and ask Christ to forgive you. “Repent” by turning in a new direction and surrendering your tongue to Christ, not to gossip or bad mouth again (1 John 1:9, 1 Cor. 7:10)
If you can’t say something good or encouraging about others, then keep your mouth shut (Eph. 4:29). If your “friends” start bad-mouthing others to you, stop them in their tracks.. refuse to be a partaker of their sins (1 Tim 5:22). Avoid association with persons who gossip (Prov. 20:19).
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