Articles
Gossip
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You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people. (Lev. 19:16)
Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. (Prov. 26:20)
They learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. (1 Tim. 5:13)
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In the catalog of sins, some are so egregious that everyone recognizes them as horrible. Others, however, are considered little more than social annoyances. Gossip is one such sin--offensive maybe, but not soul-destroying.
The Bible begs to disagree. The Old Testament word translated "talebearer" comes from a root word meaning "one who travels for trade." He has goods to peddle to whoever is interested in buying them. In this case, his wares consist of incriminating information about others. He offers this information to third parties, not to promote healing, but for the purpose of damaging the reputation of the victims. By tearing others down with his salacious intelligence, the talebearer looks to enhance his own reputation.
The gossip-spreader often justifies his work by insisting that everything he says is true. But as everyone who has played the game of "Telephone" knows, the details of a story rarely remain intact in the retelling. Even so, the truth or falsity of the scuttlebutt is irrelevant. It is the motive behind his tales that condemns him. Notice that only two verses after the Leviticus passage, the Lord admonishes us to "love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 18). There is nothing loving about spreading gossip.
That's why the talebearer not only damages the subject of his whispers, he also damages himself. There is something unseemly and sinister about this kind of talk, and most people recognize it when they see it. The Bible therefore counsels us not to repeat what we hear (Prov. 11:13), and to avoid even listening when confronted with it (Prov. 20:19).
Victims of gossip have little or no opportunity to defend themselves. Those who respond to the gossip usually form opinions and make poor decisions based on incomplete or faulty information. Gossip almost always ends up destroying friendships and undermining trust. Like a wildfire it can race through a community, destroying everything in its path.
Gossip is not a minor breach of etiquette. It is an ugly sin that should be shunned by all who love truth and righteousness.
--David
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