The Lure of Gossip, Guarding Our Speech From Subtle Error

Gossip is an alluring sin, in part, because we deceive ourselves into thinking that it will be profitable. Whether it's prominence, vengeance, or self-protection, we often think that sinful speech will help us to achieve our goals and fulfill our desires. Sometimes we even excuse our sinful speech by pointing to our "sanctified" goals, as if we could accomplish God's work through rebellious means. Our flesh loves to share details and evaluations of other people that are unloving and inappropriate for the audience to whom we are speaking. This is the essence of gossip, and no matter what we might call it or how we might justify it, it is sinful.

The flesh loves this form of sinful speech for at least one very obvious reason, pride. We are willing to talk about others rather than talking to them because we love ourselves more than the person we are sharing information about. It makes us feel significant to have all the details about a situation, and it stokes our pride to evaluate people in front of an audience.

This is the lure of gossip.

As alluring as gossip might be, we musts remember that sin never delivers on its promises. It always leads to destruction. Sinful gossip, in particular, is especially disastrous:

• Gossip leads to disaster in your own heart in the form of self-righteousnes.

• Gossip leads to disaster in your relationships in the form of bitter conflict.

• Gossip leads to disaster in your church in the form of disunity.

With these dangers in mind, it is no wonder that God's word speaks so clearly about our guarding our speech from this sin...

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Prov 6:16-19)

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. (Prov 10:18-22)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (James 3:1-12