Gossip, Slander & The Christian

1. Gossip, Slander & The Christian Terms for Gossips in the Bible This comes from the Hebrew word “rakiyl”, which means “slander, slanderer, tale bearer, informer” "Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:16). Don’t tell what do not reacted to by others. "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret" (Proverbs 11:13). A gossip will tell your secrets to other people, or tell you other people’s secrets and betray your trust. "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much" (Proverbs 20:19). A gossip will betray you in whatever you confided in them about.

2. Grumbler, Gossip, Murmurer, Backbiter • The next word is in Hebrew is “ragan” which means “to murmur, whisper, (Qal) murmurer (participle) 1) to murmur 2) backbiter (participle)." • "You grumbled in your tents and said, "The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us"" (Deuteronomy 1:27). • "They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD" (Psalms 106:25). God’s people grumbled (complained) about how God wanted go into the land He had for them. • "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends" (Proverbs 16:28). People like to have other people take sides. The way they do this is by talking to friends or other coworkers. They gossip, spread rumors and slanders. • "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts" (Proverbs 18:8). Gossip hits a core of a person being talked about and the people being told. Be careful what you say because it will last a long time! One must realize even if people know it’s a lie it still is now said and is in the person’s head. Whenever they see that person that thought will pop up. • "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down" (Proverbs 26:20). This is a good one because it shows what gossip does: it spreads hate and strife and divides people. When gossip is discouraged, hate, complaining die out.

3. Whisperer, Slanderer, Gossiper- NT • In the Greek “psithyrismos” means: 1) a whispering, i.e. secret slandering; 2) of the magical murmuring of a charmer of snakes. • "For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder" (II Corinthians 12:20).

4. Gossiping- Busybodies • Also people who are going about gossiping (phyaros) are also called busy bodies (periergos). • Gossip: of persons uttering or doing silly things, garrulous, babbling • of things, foolish, trifling, vain- Busy Bodies • busy about trifles and neglectful of important matters esp. busy about other folks' affairs, a busybody • of things: impertinent and superfluous • "Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to" (I Timothy 5:13).

5. Meddler In Other Men’s Matters • One last word for busy bodies is in the Greek allotriepiskopos, which means "one who takes the supervision of affairs pertaining to others and in no wise to himself, a meddler in other men's affairs." • "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody(meddlers) in other people's matters" (I Peter 4:15 NKJV). • Let us take note that the basic meaning of gossip is to be in other people’s business and to slander is to put down or telling stuff that should not be told. If you have to question if you should be being told something, then it is probably gossip.

6. Process Of Gossip • We as Christians are supposed to be pure in speech, not slanders of other people or gossips (Ephesians 5:3-4; II Corinthians 12:20). • A busy body- is putting your nose where it doesn’t belong. A person is just complaining so he can be heard. What this does is make the person feel important. • When it has nothing to do with you, leave it alone and say sorry but I do not want to hear gossip or venting. If the issue has to do with you, then go to the person directly who said it. A lot of people go around telling everyone else about it and finally have the person who should have been talked to first be the last person approached.

7. Talebearers- Ps. 15 • Some sins are overt. They are clearly and obviously wrong. But other sins are subtle. We don’t realize that what we are doing is wrong. • A. Gossiping can be that way. • 1. Oh, I’m sure we see that the loud-mouth neighbor on a TV sitcom is wrong. After all, the person is all but wearing a sign that says “gossiper.” • 2. However, at times we get caught up in gossip without realizing what we are doing. • B. What is wrong with gossiping? It can’t be undone!

8. Gossip Is Damaging & Cannot Be Undone • A. The righteous does not slander (speak maliciously about another) - Ps 15:1-3 • B. Our speech is suppose to be edifying – improving others - Eph 4:29, Rom 15:2 Gossip is unconfirmed • A. Demetrius spoke falsely about John (means bring unjustified charges or unfounded rumors) - III John 10 • B. Speaking truth in love - Eph 4:15 • C. One writer said, “Digging for the facts is better than jumping to conclusions.” However, people prefer to jump because it involves less effort.

9. Gossip Is Unkind • A. Pr 25:23 - This is the secret gossiper and the result is always anger • B. II Cor 12:20 - It is associated with all sorts of discord • 1. It is to be put away and replaced with kindness - Eph 4:31-32 • C. Talking about things that are not proper to mention - I Tim 5:13 • D. We are not to speak evil of no one - Tit 3:2 • 1. This is not to say that we cannot approach someone about their sin or seek help from others to help someone- when we do not know what to do. • 2. Notice that then the objective is to improve, not to destroy. • 3. Sometimes we need other’s help (Prov 11:14- Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. E. Speaking truth in love - Eph 4:15 F. The golden rule - Matthew 7:12 Solution- Psalm 39:1- “I said, I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle while the wicked are before me.”

10. Solution For Gossip & Sins Of Tongue Psalm 39:1- I said, "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me." Eph. 4:15- “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ —” Matthew 7:12- Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. • James 3: 8-10- But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11. James & The Tongue James 3:2-4- For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

12. James & The Tongue James 3:6-7- 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. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: James 3:11-13- Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

13. How Christians Must Act James 3:13-17- Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:18-4:4- And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.