A Bible study on gossip

Consider the words of your mouth; it is wrong to use your tongue for gossip. Rather, use your mouth for good: talk with God, pray for others, and speak the Word.

As David, a man after God’s own heart, prayed: Ps 19:14-LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY REDEEMER (our words reflect the meditation of our heart).

The Bible tells us, Ja 3:5,6-THE TONGUE IS A LITTLE MEMBER, AND BOASTETH GREAT THINGS. BEHOLD, HOW GREAT A MATTER A LITTLE FIRE KINDLETH! 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.
Lk 16:24-AND HE CRIED AND SAID, FATHER ABRAHAM, HAVE MERCY ON ME, AND SEND LAZARUS, THAT HE MAY DIP THE TIP OF HIS FINGER IN WATER, AND COOL MY TONGUE; FOR I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME.

    Gossip can be defined as idle talk or writing about another person or situation, regardless of fact. It can also be defined as, malicious or slanderous talk or writing about another person or situation with desire or intention to hurt them. It can also be defined as talk or writing about another person or situation in order to turn another’s opinion against that person or situation. Gossip can be truth or falsehood, but it is still gossip.
    Talebearing can be defined as a negative story, a false report, or gossip. It can be defined as one who spitefully informs against another.
    Yet when we yield to the love of the truth, it produces, Gal 5:22-25, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (which) IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUSTS. (Note: gossip in not listed as a fruit of the Spirit.)

Paul tells us, in Ro 1:18,24,26,28, FOR THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN, WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS; WHEREFORE GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLEANNESS THROUGH THE LUSTS OF THEIR OWN HEARTS, TO DISHONOUR THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES: FOR THIS CAUSE GOD GAVE THEM UP UNTO VILE AFFECTIONS: FOR EVEN THEIR WOMEN DID CHANGE THE NATURAL USE INTO THAT WHICH IS AGAINST NATURE: AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND (or a depraved mind—willingly, knowingly give themselves) TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT.

The Bible lists whisperers and backbiters (or those who gossip) along with those who are, Ro 1:29-31-FILLED WITH ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, FORNICATION, WICKEDNESS, COVETOUSNESS, MALICIOUSNESS; FULL OF ENVY, MURDER, DEBATE, DECEIT, MALIGNITY; WHISPERERS, BACKBITERS, HATERS OF GOD, DESPITEFUL, PROUD, BOASTERS, INVENTORS OF EVIL THINGS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING, COVENANT-BREAKERS, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, IMPLACABLE, UNMERCIFUL.

This know also, 2 Tim 3:1-5-THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCEBREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD, TRAITORS, HEADY, HIGH-MINDED, LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD; HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY (turn away from false accusers or malicious gossips).

Paul further tells us, 1 Tim 5:13-AND WITHAL THEY LEARN TO BE IDLE, WANDERING ABOUT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE; AND NOT ONLY IDLE, BUT TATTLERS ALSO AND BUSYBODIES, SPEAKING THINGS WHICH THEY OUGHT NOT.

It is written, Pv 6:16-19-THESE SIX THINGS DOTH THE LORD HATE; YEA, SEVEN ARE AN ABOMINATION UNTO HIM: A PROUD LOOK, A LYING TONGUE, AND HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD, AN HEART THAT DEVISETH WICKED IMAGINATIONS, FEET THAT BE SWIFT IN RUNNING TO MISCHIEF, A FALSE WITNESS THAT SPEAKETH LIES, AND HE THAT SOWETH DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN.

    1) Pride
    2) Bitterness, hostility, anger, resentment; thus, find someone to vent their inner feelings on
    3) Low self-esteem; desire to pull others around them down to their level
    4) Purposeful attempt to destroy or malign someone, motivated by jealousy
    5) Influence of peers; joining the crowd for acceptance

    1) The one who is spoken against can receive:
         hurt or pain,
         embarrassment,
         damage to their character
         or reputation;
         it is destructive
         and causes division.
    2) The one who gossips reveals the true nature of their heart. As it is written:
    Mt 12:34-O GENERATION OF VIPERS, HOW CAN YE, BEING EVIL, SPEAK GOOD THINGS? FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKETH (the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart—revealing that sin is in control).

The apostle Paul warns, Gal 6:7,8-BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP. FOR HE THAT SOWETH TO HIS FLESH SHALL OF THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION; BUT HE THAT SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP LIFE EVERLASTING (we may reap more than what we have sown—like a boomerang—it comes back to us).

It is written, Pv 19:9-A FALSE WITNESS SHALL NOT BE UNPUNISHED, AND HE THAT SPEAKETH LIES SHALL PERISH.

Pv 12:18-THERE IS THAT SPEAKETH LIKE THE PIERCINGS OF A SWORD: BUT THE TONGUE OF THE WISE IS HEALTH (reckless words pierce like a sword [NIV], which drives godly people away).

Pv 12:22-LYING LIPS ARE ABOMINATION TO THE LORD: BUT THEY THAT DEAL TRULY ARE HIS DELIGHT.
3) The third party (or the person hearing the gossip) can become confused and influenced in the wrong manner. They may repeat the error and get caught up in it.

1) Do not associate with a person who is a gossip.
As it is written, Pv 20:19-HE THAT GOETH ABOUT AS A TALEBEARER REVEALETH SECRETS: THEREFORE MEDDLE NOT WITH HIM THAT FLATTERETH WITH HIS LIPS.

2) Conceal the matter; keep it to yourself.
As it is written, Pv 11:13-A TALEBEARER REVEALETH SECRETS: BUT HE THAT IS OF A FAITHFUL SPIRIT CONCEALETH THE MATTER.

    3) Let no unwholesome words proceed out of your mouth.
    As it is written, Eph 4:29-LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING, THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE UNTO THE HEARERS.
    Our words should promote healing and minister grace to build up and edify the hearers. Words such as, "I love you, I am praying for you, I will stand by you."

    1) Genuine repentance—ask for forgiveness
    2) Commitment—seal on my lips—guard on my mouth (think before you speak)
    3) Memorize these verses, say them to God when you get out of bed:

Ps 19:14-LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY REDEEMER.

Eph 4:29-LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING, THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE UNTO THE HEARERS.

Finally, Mt 7:12 NIV-IN EVERYTHING, DO TO OTHERS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU.

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