Specifically I want to deal with these questions as they pertain to the church and how we as mature Christian women should act as role models. As women who have been in Christ for many years, we should be easily recognized as mature women of God. There should be no behavior that is indicative of us being babes in Christ.
Today, I want to address the issue of gossip. This is not new. I have written about this before. But some subjects need periodical reviewing. It is easy to fall in to this habit and not find our way out of it. If you call yourself a mature woman of God, gossip should never be on your lips.
What is gossip? Here it is by definition: Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature.
A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts. (notice, this doesn't say whether or not the details have to be true or false, it matters not!)
Gossip within the church brings about animosity, hard feelings and divisiveness. The word tells us in Titus chapter 3 verse 10 “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.” Anyone being divisive in the church body should be addressed immediately. This behavior is uncalled for and needs to be stopped before it divides the church.
I have had the occasion of seeing mature Christian women in the church teaching the younger newly saved women of the church the wicked art of gossip. In my opinion, this is the absolute worst offense of the gossiper. What we teach those who come after us we will be held accountable for. Not only will our gossip spread like wildfire and destroy many lives, but the gossip that continues on through our line of gossip descendants will also be upon our heads.
Here is what the word of God says that we mature believers should be teaching the newly saved women in our church, notice this list does not include gossip or being divisive:
Titus 2:3-5 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Here are some more verses about the wicked art of gossip.
Proverbs 16:28 “a dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”
Proverbs 11:13 “whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 “there are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
Did you hear that last verse? If you are gossiping you are sowing discord among the brothers and that is something that God hates. Hate is a strong word. Do you really want to be associated with something that God hates?
James 1:26 says this “if anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
One hurtful word, one line of gossip can undo all the good that has been done. If you volunteer in church, if you feed the poor, if you love the helpless and the hopeless, and yet you spread gossip all of the former will be forgotten. Gossip is what you will be known by. Divisiveness will be the clothes you wear.
Don’t allow gossip to destroy who you are in Christ. If you find yourself prone to talk about other people do yourself a favor and clamp your lips shut.
