Keep your slimy gossiping tongue in your face! Shut up!
Gossipers!
by David J. Stewart
"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." -James 3:5,6
"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." -1st Peter 4:15
God hates gossip! We should hate gossip too! Gossip has destroyed many churches, many marriages, many businesses, etc.! Gossip has destroyed more people's reputations than anything else.
Be careful what you tell a gossiper because everyone will eventually know about it. Let me tell you friend, there is a form of communication faster than the telephone! There is a form of communication faster than the television! There is a form of communication faster than the telegram! It is the tell-a-woman! I'm being facetious here of course, men are just as guilty about gossiping as woman are. God HATES hate gossip because it destroys people's lives, ministries, homes, marriages, businesses, churches...you name it!
"He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips." -Proverb 20:19
BEWARE! Stay away from gossiping people, meddle not with them. One of the hallmark qualities of a true friend is someone who refuses to gossip about you behind your back. As a matter of fact, we should never listen to or gossip about anyone! Proverb 11:13 reads "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." Do you have a faithful spirit? Or are you a troublemaker who enjoys hurting others with your slimy vomiting mouth, set on fire of hell as James 3:6 says.
"A lie can travel halfway across the country before truth has a chance to put its boots on." --Mark Twain
By the way, gossip starts during the childhood years. I remember when I was a teenager, we knew everything about everybody. Teenagers often share the families dirty laundry with each other. Children should be taught NEVER to share dirty laundry about their family with anyone! They should also be taught to avoid gossipers like they would homosexuals. Yes, I believe that we should teach our children to avoid homosexuals. Frankly, I think the gossipers are much scarier.
People inherently like to criticize each other, simply because we are discontent by nature (the sin nature). The carnal nature is continually trying to magnify itself (that big EGO, the "I" problem). By the way, women have a problem with egos too, it's not just men that are filled with pride.
"And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." -1st Timothy 5:13
God hates gossiping! It doesn't matter if the news is true or false, it is gossip. Gossiping is a SIN!
"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." -James 3:8
So if the tongue CANNOT be tamed, then what are we supposed to do? Well, God gives us some good advice in Proverb 17:28...Shut up!!!
"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." -Proverb 17:28
It is our own wicked pride that causes us to criticize others. Gossiping is a SIN! Gossip is the most DEADLY poison on the face of the earth because there are no hazardous warning labels anywhere. Gossip is deceitful, you never know when it is going to sneak upon you or the temptation to speak it. People are sly aren't they? They approach you with an intent to gossip, but behind a false front. They'll say something like, "I'm not being critical of Mrs. So-and-so, but did you know______?" Oh SHUT UP! Here's another one, "Let's pray for Mr. So-and-so because______? What you are doing is evil, you are assassinating the character of another person. It doesn't matter if it's true or not, it shouldn't be repeated. We live in a gossiping world. You can go to any place on this earth and you will find gossip. Where there are people, you will find the works of the flesh (and gossip is definitely one of them).
God HATES gossip because it causes strife and arguments...
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." -Proverbs 6:16-19
Have you ever told somebody something in confidence to regret it later? I remember hearing in the news a couple years ago about a woman who should have kept her mouth shut. She was depressed one day at work and muttered to a co-worker that sometimes she just felt like killing herself. Within an hour, a S.W.A.T team had invaded the building, acting upon a tip that a suicidal co-worker was ready to shoot up the workplace. My ONLY point here is...be careful what you say or repeat.
I could easily write a whole book on what the Bible has to say about our mouth. It is our worst enemy! Jesus said that the mouth speaketh out of the abundance of the heart. The people who are scorners, critics and gossipers do so because it is ingrained in their heart...they are frozen in a dark state of being a critic. Only Jesus Christ can cleanse such a heart of mischief.
Gossip involves WORDS. The Bible teaches us to "season" our words with grace. Hence, we should use the Holy Spirit's guidance when we are speaking or listening. When in doubt, we should keep our mouths shut.
God's "Get Character Quick" Plan (by Pastor Jack Hyles)
