What Shouldn't Be Passed Around

Frank Clark said, “Gossip needn’t be false to be evil - there’s a lot of truth that shouldn’t be passed around.” Like most people, I enjoy sharing information, news, interesting things about others. When I'm not paying attention that can easily fall into the category of gossip. I doubt that I know of many things that can do more damage and that has caused more destruction in the Body of Christ than this habit. Have you ever been the victim of gossip? I think we all have at one time or another. That ought to be enough to tell us that gossip is evil. But how often do we find ourselves talking about other people? How easily do you share the details of someone else’s life with another person? Do you justify it or explain it away? Or do we recognize that gossip is a sin? In 2 Corinthians 12:20, Paul expressed his fear for the church there. He said, “I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.” James, the brother of the Lord, wrote, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be” (James 3:9-10). When other people think of someone in whom they can confide, do they think of you? Or are they afraid to tell you what is on their hearts lest you tell other people? We can make light of gossip sometimes, but it is truly a dreadful habit. There is a Spanish Proverb that says, “He who is caught in a lie is not believed when he tells the truth.” If gossip is a vice in your life, work hard to eliminate it. It will deaden your Christianity.