Life as a Christian Woman

The church is a fragile thing. Why? Because it is made up of humans, and we are fragile and unpredictable. Our faith may be strong, but can be shaken by the course of events in our lives. And we are susceptible to sin that can tear us apart. No Christian is immune, and no church is immune.

One of the most damaging things a Christian can do is gossip. We know that gossip is a sin:

“You shall not give false testimony.” The 9th Commandment (Exodus 20:16)

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.” (Exodus 23:1)

“Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. A man who lacks judgement derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.” Proverbs 11:11-12

First, please understand, there is a difference between gossip and sharing information. Relaying a prayer request that was not told to you in confidence, that is not gossip. If there is a situation that is causing harm to the church, talking with your brothers and sisters in Christ to find a resolution is not just helpful, it is what we should do.
We know it is wrong. We don’t want anyone to gossip about us. We warn our children not to gossip. But we gossip anyway. We repeat that secret that was just too juicy to keep to ourselves. Or we gossip because we want to look “in the know.” Or, frankly, we gossip because we don’t like someone and it is “fun” to rat them out.

Gossip is a pervasive part of society at large… and a church is a microcosm of society and all it’s ills. But gossip has fractured many a church, and let to hurt feelings, broken friendships, injured lives.

What is the definition of gossip? According to Dictionary.com, gossip is “idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.” If you betray a confidence, that is gossip. If you repeat something that you are not 100% sure is true, or you have not verified from a second source (like a journalist should do), that is gossip.

Proverbs 16:28 says, “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” What could be worse than telling a friend something in confidence, and having them relay it to others? And, like much gossip, by the time the story has been repeated over and over again, it bears little resemblance to the original.

We are to be encouragers of others. We are to strengthen one another through prayer and uplifting. To repeat half-truths or confidences is to damage the body of Christ through gossip and innuendo.

We should never allow our spirit to hurt others, whether intentionally or not. The gathering of Christians should be a safe place, a place where anyone can go for understanding and acceptance, as well as Christian conviction. A place where someone may bear her soul and not fear that it will be repeated around town.

So the next time you start to tell that morel of information that may or may not be true, stop and think about the harm it could cause. If you want to repeat something that you have been told in confidence, think whether it could hurt someone. Do you want to be known as someone who is faithful to God’s word? Or as someone who spreads rumors?

Don’t be a gossip girl!