Gossip a Killer

Gossip, what a killer. It slips up on us and before we know it we have whispered a little morsel of stuff about another. What a destroyer. Destroyer, sound familiar? Maybe the Destroyer is at work?

Gossip is akin to murder. It assassinates the character of an unsuspecting individual. Totally void of integrity or love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control (attributes of the Holy Spirit who lives in us). Actually, it is totally void of Christ, the One we say we love, worship and serve. Yet we all do it to one another all the time. Oh, we preface with: we need to lift her or him up in prayer, she... and then we have at it.

The problems that come out of gossip:

• Promotes prejudice that spreads to all who hear (fear, hate, unkind actions)
• Separates family members and friends (pride, hurt feelings, isolates, shuns)
• Unhealthy for the one who delivers and listens
• Kills, harms, destroys
• Not profitable in any way

The scriptures indicate strongly that we need to bridle the tongue. It can kill and wound like a sword, devour, deliver wickedness, talk proud, destroy, be a poison, speak guile, and backbite. Check out lips and tongue in Psalms, Proverbs. James and 1 Peter and let the Lord work in your heart as He did mine.

Oh the tongue, that we would use it to build, encourage, praise and worship... not destroy.
I have once again been reminded through scripture to watch the tongue and to repent. Join me.