Gossip is Godlessness

It is only natural people talk about other people. This is because people are interested in what others are doing, what is going on in their lives. And if everyone were honest about others and seeking to help them this would not be an issue. It becomes an issue when people are not being honest. It becomes a problem when people deliberately try to spread hurtful rumors about others. There are those that do not want to see other people successful. There are people that are prone to pettiness, to talking about people behind their backs with the sole intent of being hurtful. This may stem from vindictiveness, or from envy, or from jealousy to half a dozen other things. And some people may genuinely not want others to be happy. They are not happy in their own lives, so they do not want others to be happy in theirs. In my former religion, Heathenry (also sometimes called Asatru), this sort of gossipping behavior ran rampant. Many people used word of mouth as a way to bring others down. Not everyone was this way. Most Heathens are caring people, if not compassionate. But there was and is an element that simply wants to bring other people down. And with no tenets promoting compassion or forgiveness or discouraging judging others many people wind up hurt her by lies and deceit. It was this sort of behavior that made me realize Heatherny was not for me.

Sadly, many people that consider themselves Christian are also this way. It is not a behavior limited to pagans alone. Go to any small town in the nation, and you will have your town gossips. Usually, this is harmless talk about what others did on vacation, the birth of a neighbor's new grandbaby, the job that your friend just got. Sometimes though the gossip is about stuff that can hurt others' lives. People may claim a husband is having an affair, when indeed he is merely helping an old friend get through her hard times, and the wife is actually in on the helping. Or they may take someone having problems finding a job as meaning that person is lazy and does not want to work. Sometimes, rumors are prone to exaggeration, a night on the town may be taken as a person being an alcoholic. A speeding ticket that results in the search of a vehicle because someone drives the same make and model of car of a wanted felon may suddenly be spun into a drug bust.  Some folks simply want to spin tales, tell tall stories about others to make their lives more interesting. We all know that one person that seems to know everything about everyone.

The Holy Bible has several things to say on gossip. To put it bluntly, gossip, or at least malicious gossip is a sin. Here are a few passages:

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28 ESV)

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. (James 1:26 ESV)

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. (Matthew 12:36 ESV)

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit (Psalm 34:13 ESV)

And these are just a few of the passages on gossip. There are many others. And yet, many have no issue about saying things that are hurtful about others. Even if a hurtful rumor is true, what good comes of it? As Christians are we not to seek to help others and not hurt them? If your neighbor's son is a drug addict what good is it to spread it about town that he is a worthless lowlife? Would it not be better to encourage the young man to become a clean living boy dedicated to the Lord? If we speak good of others and not ill, it builds them up, and encourages them to be good people. To speak woe of them does the opposite. The Bible has much to say on this as well:

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:1 ESV)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29 ESV)

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (Romans 15:1-11)

Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3) 

It is clear then what we as Christians are to do. We are to build others up, and not tear them down. We are not to judge others, but instead to love them, and to look out for their best interests. We are all prone to gossip. I know I am guilty of it at times. People like to talk. It is a way to pass the time. But we must be careful with what we say. We should always seek to build others up, and not tear them down.