Gossip

Ho! Young preacher! Prepare both well and wise,
For service in whited fields of the lost;
There will be helpers, eager to advise,
Some whose words are sound, and some at great cost!
Let drop a careless jibe, which gets repeated,
From wagging tongue to ear, a dozen times;
A malignant twist or two secreted;
Until the town's abuzz with pastor's crimes!
Engrave this deeply on your slate of mind:
WHISPERS OF ILL REPUTE ARE MORE OFT HEARD,
THAN NEWS OF RIGHTEOUS ACTS, OR DEEDS MOST KIND;
AND MORE BELIEVED, THE MORE SHOCKING WORD!
For Jesus was beseiged by gossips, too,
Their viciousness the devil's poisoned brew!

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world." (James 1:26-27)

You may be familiar with a childhood game called "Telephone". The youngsters sit in a circle. No. 1 whispers a word or phrase into the ear of No. 2. He turns and whispers the same into the ear of No. 3, and so on around the circle. The last person to receive the message repeats it aloud, to gales of laughter, because invariably it is extremely different from the message that No. 1 whispered to No. 2. However, it really is not funny, because serious research has shown it to be a true phenomenon of human nature. That is exactly what happens to gossip passed from person to person, and it always undergoes drastic changes toward the malevolent. All gossip deteriorates as it is passed on, to the discredit of the person that is the subject. This is especially true of church leaders; I suppose it is because the good reputations of most make especially inviting targets for those less reputable. The tongue is the most effective weapon of Satan in churches.

Gossiping is a sin. There are scriptures throughout the Bible that testify to this truth. Be careful in repeating things you hear. Repeat nothing discreditable about anyone, especially your pastor or church leaders. In one place the Christian is advised to let his remarks be confined only to "yes" and "no". Obviously, that is not a good way to witness to others about Jesus, but it is certainly good advice when talking with a known gossiper. Say only complimentary remarks about others; they are not as exciting as juicy tidbits of wrongdoing, but compliments do not discredit unless deliberately perverted. Even if you hear something salacious and are dying to get on the telephone and tell it, let it stop with you. God will approve of your caution.