Gossip: The Cancer That’s Killing The Church
Why are our churches dying? What is causing the churches of the Lord to collapse? It is a disease that is alarmingly spreading throughout our churches. It travels directly from the members’ hearts to their tongues, and within a few minutes, the entire congregation may get infected. I’m referring to “gossip,” that cunning little ace card that the devil use to sow discord among churchgoers.
More damaging than an outright lie is a lie wrapped around the truth. The gossip’s perception of the facts is supported by the truth. You see, gossip can be a lie or an assumption (“because she has given up on God”) wrapped around a truth (“she hasn’t been in church for a month”). However, that does not imply that it is true. Maybe she was sick, maybe a family member died, or maybe she needed some time to look at herself before going back to church. The truth is that the victim or victims are harmed, deceived, and mocked when rumors spread. Relationships are destroyed by gossip, which leaves its victims with severe wounds that may take a long time to heal. It has the power to ruin a person’s connection with God and, eventually, with other members of a congregation.
Who spreads rumors, and why? Nine times out of ten, the individual or people who spread the infection do so to hide their own immorality; the carriers are typically those who are spiritually immature and do not possess the knowledge that God has given us via the Bible. The victims are frequently individuals who are developing spiritually and within the church more quickly than those who begin to transmit the sickness. Consider this: the devil is threatened by us because he does not want us to develop spiritually or learn more about God.
Let’s look at a few words of scripture that pertain to gossip and how the Lord feels about it:
Is Gossip Hurtful?
Proverbs 18:8 (King James Version)
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Proverbs 20:19 (King James Version)
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Proverbs 26:20 (King James Version)
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
How Does God Feel About Gossip?
Proverbs 10:18 (King James Version)
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
Psalm 15:2-3 (King James Version)
[2] He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
[3] He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Ephesians 4:31 (King James Version) –
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
As you can see, God detests gossip because it is harmful. Members have been known to distance themselves from all church activities as a result of gossip. Gossip leads to depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and, in some cases, suicide. One must forgive individuals who spread rumors about them after learning that they are the target of such rumors. If this persists, ask for clarification from a counselor, school personnel, senior members of your church, etc. Separation is something the devil enjoys implementing in the church, and he exploits the weak spiritual members to accomplish his goals.
I don’t care how many praise reports, church functions, or songs you sing in church; if you allow the devil in your life outside of church, you are more susceptible to his tricks, and you become his tool. And when senior members or pastors do nothing to stop this in their churches. Or they ignore the fact that their congregation is being torn apart by a few, and then all they are doing is defending the devil. When you reach the point where enough is enough, if there is no other way to stop the gossip in your church, ask God to show you the way, ask him for guidance, and ask him to clear a path for you. “I did.”
Proverbs 11:13 (King James Version)
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Your Brother in Christ
Brother Randy
