Satan is the ultimate, most accurate, tireless, and vicious gossip. Jesus, in a contrast that is truly startling, speaks well of us to the Father, covering all of our sins in perfect love. Can we do less for fellow sinners?

Scripture repeatedly warns us about gossip. There are explicit statements about it, like Proverbs 26:20, and many more implicit comments, like James 1:26; 1 Tim. 5:13; Matt. 12:36–37. Perhaps the frequency with which Scripture addresses our tongues matches our frequent failure to see and understand this sin.

As Christians, we know that gossip is wrong, so why do we do it? Maybe it is getting attention by telling―something we loved as children and never grew out of. It might be wanting to be a perceived authority on a person or community; perhaps making ourselves look better by making others look worse; maybe even boredom. Gossip may have been the family culture you grew up in, or the influence of the wider culture, which certainly encourages and facilitates gossip. It may even be envy or revenge.

Not all talking about people is gossip. I know a pastor’s wife who says, “You can talk about people all you want, as long as you say good things about them.” Stories that are humorous or amazing might also not be gossip. But speaking good of others or limiting our talk of them to truly harmless entertainment is not often the bulk of daily conversation. We often fail to speak well of those around us, tend to tear down instead of build up, and also have times where we need to speak truth about others even if it is not pretty.

And we need to talk about other people in all areas of life: from how the doctor interacted to what the children’s teachers are like to how the visit went. More serious things, like going to an elder in a Matthew 18 situation, communicating something that is public knowledge for a specific purpose, seeking mature counsel, and other ways of seeking the protection and health of our churches and families is not gossip. Sometimes, in the name of not gossiping, people can actually suppress truth, leaving those around them exposed to danger. Protection, including speaking out when there is danger, is never gossip.

Gossip is different. Gossip is talking about other people in ways that we should not to people who have no right to hear. Maybe the things that we repeat are true, maybe not. It might be telling things that we know legitimately, because a person told us about themselves, but we pass it on without their knowledge or consent. Or gossip might be telling things that we have no right to know, because they were heard or read or seen without permission. Leaving out names does little to lessen guilt, especially since the person to whom we talk can often guess names. Gossip might be telling about someone’s sins or foibles; it might be telling about their circumstances. It might be telling things that are not true, but are distortions that have been perpetuated.

Read More