Gossip. . .

[Susan]

What is your opinion? I believe gossip, especially unfounded and/or malicious/hateful gossip, to be sin.

 

 

[ZiSunka]

Any harmful speech or communication with the intent to condemn, entertain others, injure a reputation, damage a character, give the impression of evil, or stir up a controversy is gossip.

Never gossip. Never endanger your neighbor's life. I am the LORD. Levitcus 19:16

Gossip can kill. It damages people beyond repair. People have to leave their hometowns and move away to live among strangers when gossip harms their reputations beyond repair. More than one murder and more than one suicide has been caused by gossip.

Gossip is evil.

 

[Susan]

AMEN.

 

[Susan]

I began this thread because there seems to be a lack of discussion on this sin, while other sins are discussed to the point of nausea.

Maybe it is simply because everyone has committed this sin?

 

[ZiSunka]

Maybe it's because people LOVE this sin!

 

[lisa03wilson]

I definalty have a hard time with this. Most of the gossip I do though starts out be asking advice about a problem, and ends up being a huge disscusion of one of the people involved.

I'm interested, why do people think urban legends are gossip. I thought gossip had to be about someone specific and aimed at hurting their reputation. How does "there once was a lady who had spiders living in her hairdo" hurt anyone's reputation?

 

[Susan]

It depends on what and who the urban legend is about. The spiders in the hair story is one thing, however "outing" someone as gay when they aren't or accusing a business or person of being Satanic when they are not is indeed gossip.

 

[Susan]

Also, spreading the stories that do not involve anyone in particular but serve to misinform or decieve by presenting false information on something or on a particular incident would be considered an act of gossip.

 

[KeepTheFaith15]

im sorry but everyone has gossiped once in awhile i dont believe it to be a sin if the person it's about if i tell them t's going around about them would that be considered gossip? cause if it is im guilty. if someone i care about is getting something said behind there back im gonna tell them.

 

[AngelAmidala]

I think what's hard is determining exactly what is gossip and what isn't in certain situations.

For example, talking about what someone said about a particular church service between church members might be gossip. But that same information discussed in a committee meeting that deals with the church service would be helpful.

Are you intending to be mean/malicious/etc. with what you are saying? Or are you stating a fact to improve something?

 

[Susan]

Or, in the case of some of our tabloids and tabloid equivalents, is it false and/or undocumented and said only to start a debate/cause alarm/enrage people?

 

[ZiSunka]

Even if it is true, if the discussion harms someone, it is gossip.

Real love seeks to restore, not to destroy.

 

[Miss Shelby]

Gossip is a sin and one I personally easily fall into. There is a saying in the Recovery group I attend. Before you speak ask yourself, "Is it kind, is it true and is it necessary?" If you answer 'no' to any of those questions, then don't say what is on your mind.

Michelle

 

[lisa03wilson]

Even if it is true, if the discussion harms someone, it is gossip.

I don't think that's always true. Sometimes you need to discuss something, and that discussion could hurt a persons feelings, but it needs to be discussed. for example, in my christian group at school, the leaders get together each week and talk bout what went well and what didn't at the main meeting. Two weeks or so ago we had big problems with the teaching, but the person who did the teaching didn't show up at the leaders meeting. In order to plan for the next week we had to decide what we wanted to do differently, and that ment discussing the problems with the teaching while the teacher was not there. I do not think this would be gossip since we did it without any malicious motives and because it was nessicary to plan for the next week. yes, it would have been better if the teacher had been there, but that couldn't be helped. what are your opinions, or do you all consider this post to be gossip? really I just want to know if anyone sees anything wrong with the way we acted and if they do, are there any suggestions on better actions.

 

[Dewjunkie]

A few ways I determine gossip is to think:

Would the person you're talking about tell the same person you are telling the same things?

Would you say the same things about them if they were in the room with you?

Is the information you're sharing going to be used for a positive improvement to a potentially problematic situation?

If the answers are no, then it is most likely gossip and should be avoided.