HOW TO RECOGNIZE GOSSIP

​Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

It is my great pleasure to bring you an important message written by Marilyn Scaduto a prophet in the house of Upper Room. Marilyn Scaduto has been joined to the ministry here at Upper Room Christian World Center for some time, and is mightily used of the Lord in prophecy, preaching, and teaching. She maintains a heart of concern for and dedication to the development of the saints of God in this assembly and the unfolding of the kingdom of God in the earth today. May the Lord quicken these words to your heart as you read them.
​
Bishop Anthony D’Onofrio

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts. (Prov. 26:22)

Gossip is one of the most dangerous sins because it is so subtle and ambiguous — many are unable to recognize it. Be on the alert against gossip whenever you hear of “secret information” being circulated, or if you hear someone else’s name used in a conversation. Gossip exists whenever people “talk about others” in a less than favorable way. The root of gossip is negativity, a judgmental attitude, slander, etc. Avoid associating with gossip.

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. (Prov. 20:19)

You probably remember the old saying: “If you can’t say something good about others, don’t say anything at all.” This is wise advice if we wish to avoid sin.

Gossip often masquerades as “concern” for others. Those who gossip or spread rumors know that it will seem more palatable to you if it is first hidden behind a pretentious expression of concern. “I hate to say anything about this to you, but I’m ‘concerned’ about so and so.” At other times, the gossip will seek you out as a trusted “confidante” to unload his or her “heavy heart” of concerns. “I’m very troubled about so and so, and I don’t know who else to talk to about it.” In reality, the gossip is not sincerely interested in solving the problem, but only in talking about it — stirring it up. “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. Any person who is genuinely concerned about solving a problem will privately confront it at its source — the person concerned.

The gossip is like a spider looking for prey to lure into his or her trap of gossiping. He or she may confide secrets or private concerns about other people in you, and, perhaps in consolation, you may express half-hearted agreement with his or her concerns. You may even be enticed to confide your secret concerns in him or her. Consequently, the gossip will eventually repeat the process with someone else — but next time, they will add your name as an endorsement of his or her private “issue,” and eventually disclose the secrets you shared with them. And on and on it goes.

There are times when people need to confide their own problems in a friend in the Lord. But avoid revealing anything to a person who gossips — the gossip can’t be trusted. “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Prov. 11:13).

Slander is a word that has an interesting origin. It comes from the word “Devil.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, slander means “malicious talk; to spread damaging information; to defame; to speak ill of.” No wonder the word slander gets its meaning the way it does! Slander is the work of the Devil, and those who slander are on his team. In fact, the Bible says that Satan is called the “accuser of the brethren”

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Rev. 12:10)

Are you an accuser of the brethren, too? If so, even though it may not be your intention, you are being used an agent of the Devil! According to scripture, any Christian whose mouth is out of control is not in right relationship with God. “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

“Gossip” is derived from the idea of “whispering.” According to the same dictionary, “gossip” means “to indulge in idle talk or rumors about others; spreading of sensational stories.” Funk and Wagnals dictionary defines it as “idle, or malicious talk about others.” As we can see, gossip is a close relative of slander, and God’s Word places both in the same cupboard as murder and other kinds of wickedness.

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? You may think this is a silly question to ask. Of course a Christian lifestyle doesn’t include such behavior! But how about gossip or slander? Do you engage in idle talk or rumors about others? Do you participate in bad-mouthing or spreading rumors about others? According to the Bible, which sin is less severe? Murder or gossip?

I’m sure that you realize by now that anything which is placed in the same category as murder must be a serious sin — something that should not be taken lightly. But, unfortunately, Christians don’t usually consider gossip and related activities sinful.

I encounter many believers who don’t seem to think gossip is wrong. They are obsessed as busybodies, gossips, and bad-mouthers, and have caused irreparable damage to the body of Christ. I could fill books with stories of the anguish and grief they’ve inflicted on their hapless victims. Solomon said it best:

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts. (Prov. 26:22)

Mean, vicious accusations and rumors have ripped out the heart and soul of many fellow Christians and leaders, draining them of their love, enthusiasm, and desire to live for God. Idle words have split churches, created strife, and promoted division and turmoil. As we read in proverbs, “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Prov. 26:22).

We must realize that gossip is more than a little bad habit. Gossip is wicked and sinful — a seething cauldron of corruption issuing forth from the mouth. Gossips use their mouths as weapons — weapons which are always aimed at people and used to fulfill Satan’s desire to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). “With his mouth, the godless destroys his neighbor” (Prov. 11:9). Gossip is an enemy of God and everything called holy — a cancer which spreads a deadly infection to the body of Christ. Join with me today in pledging with David in the book of Psalms,

I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence. (Psalms 39:1)