{"id":30921,"date":"2023-11-29T09:00:15","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T14:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=30921"},"modified":"2023-11-28T14:02:01","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T19:02:01","slug":"destructive-nature-of-gossip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/destructive-nature-of-gossip.htm","title":{"rendered":"The Destructive Nature of Gossip"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Need
\nGossip betrays people’s trust as information that should have been held confidential leaks out. It possibly ruins their reputation and harms relationships. In previous posts we considered how gossip can destroy the effectiveness of prayer chains<\/a>. Due to the destructive nature of gossip, perhaps we should pray similar to the psalmist when he asked God, “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps. 141:3).<\/span><\/p>\n

General Principles About Our Communication To Apply to Our Temptation to Gossip<\/h2>\n

Since “the tongue has the power of life and death” (Prov. 18:21)<\/span>, we need a biblical handle on the seriousness of gossip. Begin with broad guidance about our communication.<\/p>\n

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps. 19:14)<\/em><\/p>\n

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. (Eph. 4:29)<\/em><\/p>\n

Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. (Eph. 4:24-25)<\/em><\/p>\n

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. (2 Tim. 2:16)<\/em><\/p>\n

When tempted to gossip, let’s go back to these verses and ask if what we’re about to share is pleasing in God’s sight, helpful for building others up, righteous and holy. Or, does it fit under the category of unwholesome talk, falsehood, or godless chatter?<\/p>\n

A Biblical View of the Destructiveness of Gossiping<\/h2>\n

Now look at how God gets specific about gossip:<\/p>\n