What’s wrong with a little gossip?
May the words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
“Did you hear what she did?” “Did you see what she was wearing?” “Did you know she…?”
“What will they think of me?” “Does she like me?”
For many years my time was most invested in worry of what other people thought about me and pride of what I could gossip and dish about them. All the while teaching a bible study at the same time. I spoke out of both sides of my mouth for so long. I would gossip, I would criticize and then I would teach Scripture. That doesn’t go together!
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:9-10
What an awful, vicious cycle to live in. My heart was ugly, dark and certainly not reflecting the pureness and holiness of our God. This vicious cycle launched me into a series of bad decisions which cost me big time. In the end, I became the hot topic of gossip and rumors as my world unraveled. I was the talk of the town and all I could do was sit and watch it happen. When you are on the receiving end of hurtful gossip, you get an entirely different perspective.
As I walked through many years of healing and growing, one of the things that hurt my heart the most was realizing Christian women criticize and gossip a lot! Yes, a little taste of my own medicine was bitter. I heard it said, the most acceptable sin in church is gossip. Sadly, this seems to ring true today. Often times, it is packaged up in supposed concern or presented as a prayer request to blanket the gossip with a bow on top. It makes us feel better about ourselves and look better to others when we divulge it this way. But, let’s call it like it is gossip twisted into ‘christianese’.
Friend, we are all children of the King! No matter the mistakes we have made, what we look like, how much money we have or where we live; we are all His children. Why do we find it so easy to criticize? To gossip? Why is it not as easy to rally behind someone who is struggling and love them through?
When we choose to encourage instead of gossip, we express the redemptive love of Jesus in a beautiful way.
Remember how very powerful your words are. They can either speak life into someone or death. Proverbs 12:18 says: “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Words can be cutting, dividing or wounding. They can also be healing, grace-filled, encouraging and refreshing. Be the latter.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up according to their need, that I may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
Practice Because We Are Imperfect:
Join with me in praying that our words can be laced with love, affirmation and more than anything grace.
