gossip

Some have struggled with the word Gossip. I have been accused of gossiping. I must admit I have been guilty and have asked God to forgive me and I have repented from it as much as I am able. The Lord is still working with me on it. I have several questions to ponder and research what the bible says about these matters. For instance: Is it gossip when a person shares another person’s difficulty whether present or non-present? Did he/she give permission? What if a person is emotional hurting another person? Is it okay for the person who is being emotionally hurt to share it with a friend/confidant? Even if that friend/confidant lets it slip. Who is gossiping then? How about Mockers, who hide their intent by calling it a joke as they willfully and maliciously wheeled their tongue to yield suspicion and character assassination towards the person they choose to assassinate. These are a few of the questions I will try to help you understand by biblical examination and the conflict within the human heart as I see it.

Some have suffered severely with such gossip as backbiting (waiting for opportunities to spread lies and half-truths to wreck a person’s reputation and character), malicious jokes (ex: heard her children running all over town, it probably isn’t true, is it?), clarification gossip (I probably have this wrong but…). Rumors (Did you hear …), Corporate Gossip (A group gathers to gossip about others, widely acceptable among the team and anyone who comes along to listen. These examples are to mention a few. No matter what form of Gossip is used, you could be the instigator and/or the receiver. Listen to the Gossip makes you a partaker of the damage done to others.

We need to know how to identify what we are doing and acknowledge also what is being done. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you discernment as you go to the Lord in prayer.

The dilemma is how to replace this vicious cycle with the word of God and Godly conversation. First, off these types of emotional abuses can leave long deep wounds on the receiving end. Only the Lord can heal the damaged that has been done. Still it can be an arduous process and more difficult when you don’t even know how to start. The damage of years of false information being spread.

What I mean is, for me I would walk right into the nest not expecting it. Even though it has happened to me time and time again. I would learn some new methods to use to deal with the gossip but once it occurred well my walls would rise up faster than locking down Fort Knox. Once the offense was done, the pain ensued and it would take me several days to overcome and get back on track.

Trust issues would come flooding in and all of sudden I didn’t trust anyone. I now hold tight onto Jesus to ride these feelings out. I want to be entirely healed from the damaged I have received in my soul. And I am sure there are others out there who need this same kind of healing. God is able to heal us. Let’s take a journey on knowledge of this subject. For the word of God says my people perish from lack of knowledge.

Everyone needs someone to share their inner most thoughts with. Often there are people who don’t have someone to share these thoughts with. So they share them with anyone who will listen. This leads them wide open for ridicule; trapping them into a gossip whirlwind.

God has an answer for this in Proverbs we find ….

Bible says in Proverbs 26:20-27 (NIV)
20 “Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Web Source
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. Web Source
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
Web Source https://www.biblestudytools.com/proverbs/26-20 - 27.html
Above scripture tells us how gossip works and what it leaves in its wake. Now let’s look at the answer to overcome.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Web source http://biblehub.com/philippians/4-6,7,8.htm
Just one more note before I go. Gossip, Manipulation, Deception are a few that come to mind. Philippians 4:6-8 is one of the answers to anything that torments us. There is more scripture but I will leave those treasures for you to find. Lay it before God and He will mend your heart, he will make things work to the Glory of God. And always remember in our trials and tribulations we can overcome because Jesus paid it all. It is finished and He is the victor. We are victorious in Him.

Referenced material:
Philippians 4:6 Do Not Be Anxious About Anything, But In.., https://biblehub.com/philippians/4-6,7,8.html (accessed January 10, 2018).

Proverbs 26:20 - Without Wood A Fire Goes Out; Without A .., https://www.biblestudytools.com/proverbs/26-20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.html (accessed January 10, 2018).

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