Gossip

Jam 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

The first question you should ask yourself, is why are you listening in the first place? Regardless, if you cannot help but hear, you should admonish that person to keep quiet as quickly as you can. If they have factual information and they are Christian, they should address their concerns with the person being spoken about, otherwise, they are potentially doing irreparable harm to that person's reputation, based on hearsay.

It makes no difference what postion the person occupies, the formula is the same.

Gossip may be founded in truth, but exaggerated beyond recognition; however, the best practice is to assume every ounce of gossip is false. Rely on what you know, not what others tell you. Those who gossip and carry tales about others are no less guilty (and perhaps more so) than the person they are talking about.

 

YIKES Gossip.... GRRRR All Gossip no matter what hurts people!

We have all heard the term;

"Sticks and Stone may break my bones, but, Names will Never Hurt me!"

WRONG

Names Do hurt people. I would have to pose this question. Did Jesus Spread Gossip? NOT!!!!

Jesus Died so we could Live, thank God for Everything in our Lives!!

Praise Jesus for Today & Everyday!

Blessings, \o/

YSIC

KristiAnn

 

I like what the proverbs say about a gossip. They are as a maul, and sword & an arrow. They demolish, divide & destroy completely. (that will preach pastors!
(prov 25:18).

 

going back to explain that further...

a maul is a sledge hammer (kinda). Its purpose is to demolish (as in tearing down a wall). A sword is a device that cuts things in half. A sharp arrow is intended to pierce the heart... but is a little different than the first two. A maul and a sword are things that are wildly swung to accomplish their deeds, a bow and arrow though is something that deliberately is aimed and fired, it is intended to kill and completely destroy. Arrows of this day looked like this
>>----> the sharp end went into the heart narrow end first and had a wide in at the back, this was to cause more damage going out than it did coming in (when pulled out). It made a very large and painful wound. Such is the work of a gossip.

 

Amen!

Gossip is like poisoned candy. It tastes sweet but it is deadly.

Dave

 

someone once asked if there is good gossip. They gave me an illustration of a person with a serious drug addiction. They said how can that person be saved from their drug addiction if no one is told about it that is able to offer help. I stated that gossip is the telling or re-telling of an event or attribute of a person with the intention of making that person look bad. No, there is no good gossip, telling a friend that their friend has an addiction with intent to help is not gossip, it is concern. There is no good gossip

 

Take the person that told you received the information from and go to the person they were talking about. If they won't go that disregard what they said.

 

Gossip is the telling of rumors, or telling details that are intended to be of a personal, confidential, or intimate nature. In simplest terms, it's saying stuff that isn't your business to say.

Gossip is gossip. If I do anything wih that information that ends up spreading that to someone else, I'd be guilty of the same. 9 times, out of 10, if I hear gossip, I tell the person it's just gossip, and I dismiss it, and probably make some kind of "you're just gossipping" comment without being disrespectful to them (kinda my way of saying they're not being very nice).

I'd be disappointed in them.

If it didn't come from someone who's party to it, it's gossip.

BTW, it should be noted that a slang or alternate definition to gossipping is simply engaging in idle conversation. This type of "gossipping" is not what scripture is ealing with. Scripture is dealing with the rumor-like gossip.

 

You can not accuse someone if gossip is your only source of evidence. Otherwise you only participated in the gossip and attacked someones character. The wrong would lay at your feet not theirs.

 

You asked: How do you differentiate beteen gossip and truth? What if this person is in a leadership postion at your church?

If I was told a church leader was having an affair and the source was a person I trusted and they knew first hand, I'd go to my husband and allow him to decide whether or not he should speak to the preacher or even deacons about the allegations. Would it be gossip if the preachers wife told her close friends she knew her husband was sleeping with his secretary?

Diane

 

What is it?

Gossip is giving out truths or untruths about a person or situation that may or may not be true, but is unwise to share with the person it is being told to.

What would you do if you heard gossip about a believer that involves immorality?

I would do what I have done. Go to the person being gossiped about and tell them what the rumor is. They have the right to know what is being said, and a chance to dispel the rumor if it is false, or properly take care of the situation if it is true.

What if this person is in a leadership postion at your church?

All the more reason to let them in on what is being said about them so it can be taken care of in the proper manner.

How do you differentiate beteen gossip and truth?

Gossip CAN be truth. If you're asking how to find out whether or not the gossip is true, only confronting the person directly will help you figure that one out, along with time.

Gina

 

I think my comments in the thread in this link would explain my feelings about gossip

 

Bump