Transcript Gossip, Slander & The Christian

Gossip, Slander & The Christian
Terms for Gossips in the Bible
This comes from the Hebrew word “rakiyl”, which
means “slander, slanderer, tale bearer, informer”
"Do not go about spreading slander among your
people. Do not do anything that endangers your
neighbor's life. I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:16). Don’t
tell what do not reacted to by others.
"A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man
keeps a secret" (Proverbs 11:13). A gossip will tell your
secrets to other people, or tell you other people’s
secrets and betray your trust.
"A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who
talks too much" (Proverbs 20:19). A gossip will betray
you in whatever you confided in them about.
Grumbler, Gossip, Murmurer, Backbiter
•
•
•
•
•
•
The next word is in Hebrew is “ragan” which means “to murmur, whisper, (Qal)
murmurer (participle) 1) to murmur 2) backbiter (participle)."
"You grumbled in your tents and said, "The LORD hates us; so he brought us out
of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us""
(Deuteronomy 1:27).
"They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD" (Psalms 106:25). God’s
people grumbled (complained) about how God wanted go into the land He had for
them.
"A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends"
(Proverbs 16:28). People like to have other people take sides. The way they do this
is by talking to friends or other coworkers. They gossip, spread rumors and
slanders.
"The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost
parts" (Proverbs 18:8). Gossip hits a core of a person being talked about and the
people being told. Be careful what you say because it will last a long time! One
must realize even if people know it’s a lie it still is now said and is in the person’s
head. Whenever they see that person that thought will pop up.
"Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down" (Proverbs
26:20). This is a good one because it shows what gossip does: it spreads hate and
strife and divides people. When gossip is discouraged, hate, complaining die out.
Whisperer, Slanderer, Gossiper- NT
• In the Greek “psithyrismos” means: 1) a
whispering, i.e. secret slandering; 2) of the
magical murmuring of a charmer of snakes.
• "For I am afraid that when I come I may not
find you as I want you to be, and you may not
find me as you want me to be. I fear that
there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts
of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance
and disorder" (II Corinthians 12:20).
Gossiping- Busybodies
• Also people who are going about gossiping (phyaros)
are also called busy bodies (periergos).
• Gossip: of persons uttering or doing silly things,
garrulous, babbling
• of things, foolish, trifling, vain- Busy Bodies
• busy about trifles and neglectful of important matters
esp. busy about other folks' affairs, a busybody
• of things: impertinent and superfluous
• "Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and
going about from house to house. And not only do
they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies,
saying things they ought not to" (I Timothy 5:13).
Meddler In Other Men’s Matters
• One last word for busy bodies is in the Greek
allotriepiskopos, which means "one who takes the
supervision of affairs pertaining to others and in no
wise to himself, a meddler in other men's affairs."
• "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an
evildoer, or as a busybody(meddlers) in other people's
matters" (I Peter 4:15 NKJV).
• Let us take note that the basic meaning of gossip is to
be in other people’s business and to slander is to put
down or telling stuff that should not be told. If you
have to question if you should be being told
something, then it is probably gossip.
Process Of Gossip
• We as Christians are supposed to be pure in speech,
not slanders of other people or gossips (Ephesians 5:34; II Corinthians 12:20).
• A busy body- is putting your nose where it doesn’t
belong. A person is just complaining so he can be
heard. What this does is make the person feel
important.
• When it has nothing to do with you, leave it alone and
say sorry but I do not want to hear gossip or venting. If
the issue has to do with you, then go to the person
directly who said it. A lot of people go around telling
everyone else about it and finally have the person who
should have been talked to first be the last person
approached.
Talebearers- Ps. 15
• Some sins are overt. They are clearly and obviously
wrong. But other sins are subtle. We don’t realize that
what we are doing is wrong.
• A. Gossiping can be that way.
• 1. Oh, I’m sure we see that the loud-mouth neighbor
on a TV sitcom is wrong. After all, the person is all but
wearing a sign that says “gossiper.”
• 2. However, at times we get caught up in gossip
without realizing what we are doing.
• B. What is wrong with gossiping? It can’t be undone!
Gossip Is Damaging & Cannot Be Undone
• A. The righteous does not slander (speak maliciously
about another) - Ps 15:1-3
• B. Our speech is suppose to be edifying – improving
others - Eph 4:29, Rom 15:2
Gossip is unconfirmed
• A. Demetrius spoke falsely about John (means bring
unjustified charges or unfounded rumors) - III John 10
• B. Speaking truth in love - Eph 4:15
• C. One writer said, “Digging for the facts is better than
jumping to conclusions.” However, people prefer to
jump because it involves less effort.
Gossip Is Unkind
•
•
•
•
•
•
A. Pr 25:23 - This is the secret gossiper and the result is always anger
B. II Cor 12:20 - It is associated with all sorts of discord
1. It is to be put away and replaced with kindness - Eph 4:31-32
C. Talking about things that are not proper to mention - I Tim 5:13
D. We are not to speak evil of no one - Tit 3:2
1. This is not to say that we cannot approach someone about their sin or seek
help from others to help someone- when we do not know what to do.
• 2. Notice that then the objective is to improve, not to destroy.
• 3. Sometimes we need other’s help (Prov 11:14- Where no counsel is, the
people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
E. Speaking truth in love - Eph 4:15
F. The golden rule - Matthew 7:12
Solution- Psalm 39:1- “I said, I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I
will restrain my mouth with a muzzle while the wicked are before me.”
Solution For Gossip & Sins Of Tongue
Psalm 39:1- I said, "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my
tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the
wicked are before me."
Eph. 4:15- “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all
things into Him who is the head — Christ —”
Matthew 7:12- Therefore, whatever you want men to do to
you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
• James 3: 8-10- But the tongue can no man tame; it is an
unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God,
even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are
made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth
proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these
things ought not so to be.
James & The Tongue
James 3:2-4- For in many things we offend all.
If any man offend not in word, the same is a
perfect man, and able also to bridle the
whole body. Behold, we put bits in the
horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and
we turn about their whole body. Behold also
the ships, which though they be so great, and
are driven of fierce winds, yet are they
turned about with a very small helm,
whithersoever the governor listeth.
James & The Tongue
James 3:6-7- And the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it
defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the
course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every
kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of
things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of
mankind:
James 3:11-13- Doth a fountain send forth at the same
place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my
brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so
can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who
is a wise man and endued with knowledge among
you? let him shew out of a good conversation his
works with meekness of wisdom.
How Christians Must Act
James 3:13-17- Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among
you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with
meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your
hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom
descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For
where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
James 3:18-4:4- And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them
that make peace. From whence come wars and fightings among
you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your
members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and
cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume
it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that
the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.