The Tongue of a Serpent- Gossip, Slander, Rumors
This topic must be addressed because I think many people underestimate the severity of its power!
I have noticed among the Slavic culture (not only of course, but mainly) the idea of gossip and bad mouthing people is a norm. Sadly, this happens among the so called Christian circles. If you sit down and have a cup of tea at a Russian household its just a matter of time before someone will say something negative about someone else…. People love doing this.
So whats so bad about saying something that’s already true, right? If a person is in sin why not address that sin in front of all your friends, or family…? What harm can it cause, Right?
This mentality is precisely what gets people in trouble. People simply do not understand the power of the tongue. They think that bad mouthing someone will not bite back.
Ironically, I experienced this first hand today. I deal with a few different work suppliers, these suppliers have vendors and these vendors represent a product that my business installs. Well, quite recently I was talking to a sales rep. that works for the vendor company, and I mentioned that this one guy at the local lumber yard wasn’t acting very ethically. I told him how furious I was with the lumber staffs integrity. I also mentioned that the supplier was sharing confidential pricing information that I had shared with him with my competitors.
So, guess what happens next…I’m sure you already guessed, the vendor with his big mouth calls the supplier and tells him in precise detail what I had said. Although, the conversation was strictly confidential and shouldn’t of traveled- the vendor didn’t see it that way. So guess what, the supplier approaches me today and blatantly tells me about the complaint from the vendor that I had mentioned. I was furious, I couldn’t believe what had happened…but who was I kidding, this was all my fault. I was angry but who could I blame other than myself. Although the supplier had indeed done something unethical me telling his direct vendor that he probably gets coffee with wasn’t the greatest idea.
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences (Proverbs 18:21).
This experience was a direct reflection of reaping the consequences. Although, nothing serious happened in this scenario, it just goes to show that people will not hold back when they hear something negative. And whats worse is the facts are clearly skewed by the time it reaches the end user.
It’s like playing telephone- a popular kids game (you get in a circle and you say something quietly to the person next to you and this continues until it makes it around the circle). Will the details of what was said remain the same? Never. Details will always be lost in translation, this is because people like to exaggerate, they love telling the hot new scandal! The most recent gossip! Some even love to be the first to tell people as if it gives them some sort of satisfaction.
Well, I have some news for you! This is a sin, and Christians should never partake in these types of behaviors. You want to know the truth about someone approach them and ask, if they tell you then that is their right, if they don’t that is also their right. But regardless don’t assume things.
The things we say daily we will be judged by, if we choose to gossip and spread rumors, we will reap the consequences.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:37).
People don’t realize how serious gossip is, how serious rumors are. I remember having a conversation with a young couple, they were talking about a young guy, how he got baptized, and he repented, and they dived in instantly about his past. How he was a drunk, a drug user, how he use to party. I was repulsed by this! Were hos sins not forgiven when he repented, when he made a vow to stay faithful to Jesus Christ. How many of you break this promise daily, yet can cast a stone without even skipping a beat.
It sickens me how harsh and wicked people can be. It makes me hurt inside that people think they are so holy and everyone around them is a sinner, just because they go to church.
Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3
Guard what you say, think twice before you decide to ruin someones reputation based on assumptions. Imagine if Jesus told the prostitute go and sin no more, and then went and told everyone about the prostitutes life. How absurd does that sound, but how many of us do this daily.
We read in the Old Testament:
Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
Proverbs 11:13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Proverbs 20:19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
Do we not see a pattern, the Bible is clear about what happens when we slander. We are forbidden to do this.
Proverbs 26:20-22 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
This passage explains that when a rumor starts you shouldn’t kindle it, or when people gossip don’t partake. The fire will cease, when we sit and talk negatively about others that does absolutely nothing for you nor the person being discussed.
So if you are one of these types of people, beware, for the seeds that you plant may cause lots of discomfort later. People know a gossip queen, people know when you share secrets, because just like you most of who you tell will probably tell others as well.
1 Timothy 5:13-14 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
Stay away from people that slander, for you will become a victim to the tongue. Its better to not associate yourself with these people if you see this from the start. Better yet, confront them about their slanderous tongue, so the Holy Spirit can further convict them of this sin.
We have to battle this as individuals because we as human beings, being in the flesh will always have to be careful to not use our tongue for wickedness.
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:8)
Apostle Paul seen this in the church similar to me seeing it today, he confronted these loose tongues and rebuked their sinful nature.
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)
So if you are a participant in these sorts of slanderous activities, you should stop, otherwise you will reap the consequences on judgement day. Your tongue should never drag another person down, your tongue should only build them up. If you call yourself a Christian take the log out of your eye before you address someones splinter. You have no idea what your slander can cause.
And in fact, God hates these sins….
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers (Proverbs 6:16).
No one likes to be ridiculed, the next time you are tempted to say something bad about someone, imagine them sitting in the room. How would it make them feel, will they be happy? Or will they be furious?
