Gossip spreads falsehood
Ephesians 4:25 says, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." When we gossip, facts are distorted. Lies are spoken as truth. Half-truths are heralded as gospel. Gossip may have an ounce of truth to it. But gossip is usually combined with a ton of lies. People often have the attitude, "Don't bother me with the facts. My mind is already made up."
A couple of years ago, someone ran a red light and totaled my car. I replaced my Toyota MR2 with a Toyota Camry. When I drove the new car to get a haircut, the receptionist misread the emblem on the car. She thought I had bought a Lexus. She said, "I love your new Lexus." I said, "What Lexus? That's only a Toyota. I've never even been in a Lex-us." That's how gossip works. Half-truths and misunderstandings are turned into unbelievable stories, like your pastor buying a new Lexus.
Gossip separates friends
Proverbs 16:28 says, "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends." In a few seconds gossip can ruin a friendship that took years to build. Not only does gossip ruin friendships. Gossip can do great harm to a church.
People leave churches when they believe gossip. People leave churches when they have been wounded by gossip. Churches have split over gossip started by a single person.
Proverbs 6:19 tells us that of the 7 sins God hates, the sin god hates the most is stirring up dissension among His people.
A grandmother was saying bedtime prayers with her two grandchildren. She said, "Tonight, we're going to talk about sin. Do you know what sin means?" Seven-year-old Keith said, "It's when you do something bad." Four-year-old Aaron's eyes widened, "I know a big sin Keith did today." That's how gossip works. We see the speck in our brother's eye but ignore the log in our own.
III. The Antidote for Gossip
We know that gossip originates with Satan. We know that gossip is a product of our sinful nature. We know how incredibly destructive gossip is. Now we need to consider God's antidote for gossip.
Overlook an offense
Proverbs 17:9 says, "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." Overlooking an offense is an act of love and friendship. It is also a sign of Christian maturity. Christians can be too thin skinned. We can wear our feelings on our shoulders. We need to develop rhinoceros thick skin.
Churches are a family. Sometimes family members offend family members. Don't be surprised when it happens. We're too quick to get offended. We're too quick to tell others about how another church member offended us. It's wrong! God's says to overlook the offense. If you must talk about the offense, talk to the person who offended you, and that person alone.