OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Taming_the_Tongue Next 

TAMING THE TONGUE (7)

 

By the Way, Did You Hear?

Gossip

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Has anyone ever heard of a Scold’s Bridle?

1.    Picture

 

Related image

 

2.    It was put on women in Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries who used foul language, nagged their husbands, or gossiped.

 

B.   It seems that gossip has been a problem within society since the fall of man.  Most know that it is evil, but they still participate in it.

 

C.   The title of our lesson is:  “By the Way, Did You Hear?”

 

I.             WHAT IS GOSSIP?

 

A.   Dictionary definition:

1.    Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature.

2.    A conversation involving malicious chatter or rumors about other people

3.    Casual or unconstrained conversation or report about people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

 

B.   The word “gossip”:

1.    It comes from the word “godsipp.”

a.    This was a woman’s close circle of family and friends who would be invited to the birth of her child.

b.    These individuals knew all of the intimate details of the person’s life.

2.    The word moved from the intimate circle to describe the person who would go around revealing all of the intimate details of a person’s life.

 

C.   The Bible’s used of the word “gossip.”

1.    The KJV does not use the word “gossip.”

2.    A wonderful definition of gossip, however, is found in Proverbs 16:27.

 

An ungodly man diggeth up evil:  and in his lips there is a burning fire.

a.    First, he is described as an ungodly man.

b.    Second, he digs up evil on others.

c.    Third, the information he finds is like a fire on his tongue that must be spread.

 

D.   One divided gossip into the following information.

1.    Accusing others of wrong when we do not know it is true.

2.    Making derogatory remarks from malicious motives.

3.    Simply meddling in another’s affairs.

4.    Spreading dirt about others.

5.    Broadcasting private sins or the private actions of others.

 

II.            THE BIBLE AND GOSSIP

 

A.   The most common term to describe gossip in the Bible is the word talebearer.

1.    Leviticus 19:16

 

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among they people…

 

2.    Proverbs 11:13

 

A talebearer revealeth secrets:  but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

 

3.    Proverbs 18:8

 

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the uttermost parts of the belly.

 

4.    Proverbs 20:19

 

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:  therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

 

5.    Proverbs 26:20

 

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:  so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

 

6.    Proverbs 26:22

 

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

 

B.   Slanderer is another prominent term for a person who gossips.

1.    Psalm 101:5

 

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off…

 

2.    Proverbs 10:18

 

He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

 

3.    I Timothy 3:11

 

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

C.   False accusers

1.    II Timothy 3:3

 

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.

 

2.    Titus 2:3

 

The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.

 

D.   Whisperer (Rom. 1:29)

 

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers.

 

E.   Backbiters (Rom. 1:30)

 

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.

 

F.   Evil speaking (I Peter 2:1)

 

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.

 

G.   Busybodies in other men’s matters (II Thess. 3:11)

 

We hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

 

III.         WHY DO PEOPLE GOSSIP?

 

A.   It is fun.

 

B.   To hurt others

 

C.   To feel important

 

D.   To control others

 

E.   To have something to talk about

 

F.   To maintain a circle of friends

 

IV.         HOW BAD IS GOSSIP?

 

A.   I Timothy 3:11

 

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

 

1.    Slanderers

a.    The word for “slanderers” is “diabolos.”

b.    This is the same word translated “devil” to describe the evil one (Matt. 4:1, 5, 8, 11).

2.    Those who engage in gossip take on the character of the devil.

 

B.   Gossip plainly violated the teachings of God’s Word (Lev. 19:16).

 

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among they people…

 

C.   In Romans 1:29, it is listed along with such sins as fornication, envy, and murder.

 

D.   In Romans 1:30, it is listed right beside “haters of God.”

 

E.   Those who involve themselves in this sin are “worthy of death” (Rom. 1:32).

 

F.   It is a sin associated with the withdrawal of fellowship.

1.    Paul describes the disorderly (II Thess. 3:11).

 

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

 

2.    In I Thessalonians 3:6, Paul commands the church to withdraw from those who walk disorderly.

 

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

 

V.           HOW TO OVERCOME GOSSIP

 

A.   Refuse to tell or listen to any gossip at all (Ps. 141:3; See Prov. 26:20).

 

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

 

B.   Fill your life with meaningful activity (II Thess. 3:12).

 

Now them that are such (those who do not work and are busybodies, v. 11) we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

 

C.   Do not become close friends with a gossip (Prov. 20:19).

 

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:  therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

 

D.   Do not frequent places that are filled with gossip (Prov. 4:14-15).

 

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

 

E.   Check your motives before you speak about another person (Luke 6:45).

 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil:  for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

 

 

 

F.   Learn when to talk.

1.    Is it true?

2.    Are my motives right.

3.    Is it necessary?

4.    Will it help?

5.    Am I telling the right person?

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Gossip is an easy sin in which to be trapped.

 

B.   Gossip can become as addictive as gambling.

 

C.   Proverbs 10:18

 

He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth slander, is a fool.