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Background:
So why write on this subject? … BECAUSE … nothing hurts a church more than the spreading of false rumors and gossip. Being honest with ourselves, all Christians must admit that at one time or another we have spread rumors. It might be something that is done quietly without serious intent, among just a few “close” friends. What may start off as a somewhat innocent statement can fast become something else as folks down the line add a little spin and/or twist when passing it on the next person. Sometimes the spin and/or twist is intentional … meant to drive home a point, tear down a reputation, or simply put someone’s integrity into question. Let me be quite frank, spreading gossip and rumors are a major tool of the devil.
Long-time Christians have probably heard countless sermons over their lifetime on the dangers of spreading rumors and gossip. Have you become calloused and immune to the topic? Are you too smug to admit that you might be contributing to the problem by either passing along the rumor/gossip or not stopping it in its tracks. Or, are you just pious enough to believe that only others are guilty of this sin?
I’m not a preacher or church staff person. I’m simply a Christian business man, a regular member of my church with a lot of chronological years to my credit. So my thoughts about spreading rumors and gossip don’t come from an exhaustive Biblical study done in a seminary. However, the Bible is absolutely clear on the subject. God thought enough about the topic to include it as the Ninth Commandment. There is absolutely NO room for misinterpretation. Rumors and gossip are sinful and do tremendous damage to the ministry and work of the church.
Scriptures (all NIV unless otherwise noted):
Read these scriptures for yourself and then you decide if you are presently guilty of this sin and in need of repentance.
- Exodus 20:16 – “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (KJV)
- Leviticus 19:16 – “Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”
- Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.”
- Romans 1:29 – “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips.”
- 1 Timothy 5:13 – “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.”
- Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”
- Proverbs 18:8 – “The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.”
The following scriptures provide sound advice on how to personally avoid being involved in passing along rumors and gossip and how to stop it in its tracks. The list is in no way exhaustive … just representative.
- Proverbs 26:20 – “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.”
- Deuteronomy 13:14 – “Then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly.”
- Matthew 7:12 – “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
- Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
- Proverbs 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.” (KJV)
- I Thessalonians 5:21 – “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (KJV)
Reflection:
Even the life of Jesus was subject to hurtful rumor and gossip. Matthew records the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:18-19 (KJV) as He recounts the nasty and sinful statements made about John the Baptist and the Lord Himself: “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners …”
Each of us needs to look deep into our lives and hearts. We need to ask, “Is it I, Lord?” “Am I a gossip? Am I spreading rumors and gossip because of jealousy, vengeance, vanity or self-justification. Am I quietly involved in this “secret” sin? Is my family, my friends, or my church suffering because I am passing along half-truths, rumors and gossip?
The Bible teaches us that spreading rumors and gossip is sinful. It is particularly harmful to the church. It is an unhealthy activity that can unnecessarily bring about unjustified harm to church leadership and the Lord’s mission for the church.
You can take immediate action to halt the “rumor mill” in your church by stopping the spread of gossip in its tracks. If you make this a standard practice in your everyday behavior, others will follow your leadership. Kindly tell those spreading rumors that nothing good can result from such and that you don’t make a practice of participating in the rumor mill. Insinuations, gossip and half-truths when repeated often enough somehow become believable … even to the person responsible for initiating the information.
As I close this article, I am reminded of Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” This verse convicts me. I am committed to doing what is right in the sight of God. Does it convict you?
____________________________________________________________
Related Articles by Jim Davenport on this subject:
- Revisiting: On Christians Spreading Rumors and Gossip in the Church
- A Recollection – Pine Lake Baptist Church Fire – June, 1996
See all of Jim’s Books.
Other Christian Articles by Jim Davenport:
- All of Jim’s Christian Articles
- The Spindly Grapevine
- Our Source of Courage
- Be Strong in The Lord
- God is Faithful
- Our Comforter
- God Will Provide
- In His Time
- God’s Solution for Anxiety
- Facing Tough Times
- Is Anything too Hard for God?
- Do Not Fear
- An Anchor in the Time of the Storm
- His Grace is Sufficient for Me
- Become A Christian
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jimdavenport 
what allot of cranial christians think that the loaf and the fish is just for them . So they pull those things down in others christians life though gossip and lie spreading jesus wasn’t just feeding people he ways saying you can have these things to what cranial christians think that these things are just for them that’s why they gossip and spread lies about others because the devil has convents them that these areas are just for them
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Matthew 7:1 is grossly taken out of context as it is referenced.
If you quote 7:1, then you also need to bring in 7:2-5.
We are called to judge those within our church, 1 cor 5. If we didn’t judge those within, how would we be able to test their fruits to see if they are false prophets and teachers Matthew 7:15-20.
Gossip is the act of spreading lies, or unsure truths. If you see a brother in sin within the church, you take it to him, and if he refuses to listen, you go back to him with 1-2 more people. Is it gossip if you go to a brother or sister, with truth, and say to them “This man is sinning in the church, we need to take it to him?” No. Of course it isn’t. Its taking a truth and finding another witness.
Now, if the accusations being made have no evidence, and only one person is claiming them, then it is more than likely a false accusation, or rumor. 1 tim 5:19 makes it clear that accusations are going to occur, and if only one person is making the accusation, then its probably not worth taking seriously.
When a rumor is being spread, it is the job of the Christians that hear it to take it to tell the rumor spreader that they need to go to the person that they are accusing, Matthew 18:15-17. This scripture covers 3 things in this situation. 1) It stops the rumor from being spread, 2) It allows the accused of the rumor an opportunity to be made aware that they may be sinning, 3) It allows for the accused to bring about their defense and set a truth. You can not have a story from 2 points of view and expect to have a full understanding without both sides.
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I appreciate your comments. Thank you for adding clarity to my post.
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found this article today as well. Its a good read as well.
http://www.gospelway.com/morality/slander.php
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Thanks Jim for your blog. I found this due to looking for the words for “Thank you Lord for saving my soul” that I learned back also in the 40 or 50th. Regarding the issue of church gossiping this should also follow in your daily work outside of church.
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Absolutely, Milt. Christians have the duty and responsibility to avoid passing along rumors and gossip in all aspects of their life. God expects that His children will honor Him every day by keeping His teachings. Jim
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I am basically new to this area, and was brought up and taught that you watch your tongues. What you wouldn’t want said unto you , than you shouldn’t say , unto others, or about others. We have trying to get members in the Church and in forth we have a Food Shelve , we provide for the ones in need and had out invites while they come forth for there need, If this gossip is going on inside a Church would you Like to be part of a Church when you here this continuing “Matter going on “. I love the Lord , But walking in and hearing such going’s on it almost makes me sick. We have talk to pastor about this and in past he has mention in Sermons about the tongue and how you treat others. Sermons as such have been “eye openers” to me and kind of made me think before I say anything. I can call myself a Christian , But how can others say that when they can’t follow God’s word when they do this?
Very Concern Person,
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Carol, I can see your heart in your response to my post. It is very important to try and stop the spread of rumors and gossip in its tracks from the very beginning. Please review my second article on the subject https://jimdavenport.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/revisiting-on-christians-spreading-rumors-and-gossip-in-the-church/ … In this article I provide some additional scriptures on the subject and also a couple of examples from the Bible on how Joseph and Jesus handled these situations. In this article I say: “Let’s face it, when we gossip, listen to gossip and/or spread rumors we are knowingly participating in and condoning a destructive purpose that can result in character assassination. Could it be that the gossiper has a need to feel good about themselves by disparaging the character and reputation of others? I most certainly think so!” Don’t get discouraged with your friends. They need to be educated on the subject. Christians are not exempt from participating in gossip and rumor spreading. I think we can conclude with confidence that it grieves the heart of God when we do it. Thank you for your stand. Blessings, Jim D.
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Im glad that it makes you sick I am so tired of Christians thinking that they can damage other christians and that it is ok as long as they have the family structure up it is so evil
that the church it’s self makes me sick and maybe it is a blessing scripture says that truly
devoted leave the safety of the harbor all this christians that backstab and spread lies about others and go to church all the time are not the truly devoted .
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The Scripture is full of instruction to followers and to the church on how to handle rumors. The instruction is clear. Unfortunately only a few allow Jesus to fully rule their lives and their tongues.
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Controlling the tongue is one of the greatest challenges for Christians since most gossip is a result of not thinking before we speak. Your article places emphasis on very valid points that should be pondered on a continual basis.
Thanks for sharing,
John Hayes
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