Gossip---What's On Your Platter
Gossip: What’s On Your Platter?
Pastor Keith Hassell
Foundation Scripture: Leviticus 19:16 “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor; I am the Lord.”
I. We are not to go about as a talebearer among God’s people
A. “Talebearer” (Hebrew “rakiyl”) means “scandal monger”; to slander, carry tales, talebearer
B. A talebearer has the latest scoop on everyone and is ready and eager to share it at any given time.
C. Gossip (Webster’s) defines “gossip” as a person who chatters or repeats idle talk and rumors, especially about the private affairs of others.
D. Gossip is saying behind someone’s back what you would not say to their face.
E. Gossip is gossip even if the information is true.
F. Gossip is sharing damaging rumors or information that discredits a person’s reputation.
G. Once information is released, it can never be retrieved.
H. Joke about the four preachers in therapy each confessing their addictions, one to alcohol, one to tobacco, one to gambling, and one to gossip.
II. What does the Bible have to say about gossip?
A. Psalm 15:1,3 "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? He that backbiteth not with his tongue nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor."
B. Proverbs 10:18 "Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool."
C. Proverbs 11:9 "The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor. But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered."
D. Proverbs 11:13 "A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter."
E. Proverbs 16:28 "A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends."
F. Proverbs 18:8 "The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles (a Jewish translation: "wounds"), and they go down into the inmost body."
G. Proverbs 20:19 "He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips."
H. Proverbs 26:20 "Where there is no wood, the fire goes out. And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases."
I. Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 "The lips of a fool shall swallow him up; the words of hi mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness."
J. Ephesians 4:29-32 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor (loud quarreling) and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. and be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
K. I Timothy 3:11 (Leader's wives) "Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things."
L. I Timothy 5:11 "But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not."
M. Titus 2:3 "The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things."
N. Titus 3:1-2 "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work., to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men."
O. Titus 3:10-11 "Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."
P. James 1:26 “If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his own tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”
Q. James 4:11 "Do not speak evil of one another brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?"
R. Revelation 12:10 Satan is called the accuser of the brethren
III. Gossip: What is on your platter?
A. We all are carrying around something on our platter.
B. Those who spread gossip and those who listen to gossip are dung connoisseurs.
C. Gossips leave a foul spiritual odor everywhere they go but they have become so accustomed to it that they do not recognize it
D. Satan is called “Beelzebub” which is thought to mean “dung god”
E. Dung attracts flies (demons)
F. It was considered the grossest insult and judgment for someone’s house to be turned into a dung heap (2 Kings 10:27; Ezra 6:11)
1. Are you letting people bring dung into your house?
2. Are you letting people bring dung into the house of God?
G. Have you been feeding on other people’s dung?
H. Have you become a dung collector and marketer?
J. Do you have dung breath?
K. Have you been dunged?
IV. Results of Gossip
A. Gossip tears down relationships rather than edifies or builds up
B. Gossip betrays the confidence of others and ruins the gossiper’s ability to be trusted with sensitive information
C. Gossip uncovers a multitude of sins. Love covers a multitude of sins (Proverbs 10:12; James 5:20)
D. Gossip places us in the position of a talebearer that is strictly forbidden by God.
E. Gossip is addicting to both the gossiper and the listener.
F. Gossip keeps a person from abiding in the tabernacle (presence) of the Lord.
G. Gossip is hypocrisy and deception as it feeds on the faults of others while it ignores its own fault and the sin of speaking evil of others.
H. Gossip destroys people’s reputations.
I. Gossip reveals the secrets of others.
J. Gossip separates the best of friends.
K. Gossip both sows strife and keeps the fire of strife burning.
L. Gossip grieves the Holy Spirit.
M. Gossip disqualifies a person from leadership.
N. Gossip feeds a person’s pride as they sit in the seat of judges.
O. Gossip destroys a person’s witness among the lost.
P. Gossip places a person in the category of a divisive person who is characterized as warped and must be removed from the congregation after two admonitions.
Q. Gossip involves others in the listener in their sin.
R. Gossip is like leaven that can spread like cancer in a congregation.
S. Gossip is cooperation with Satan, the accuser of the brethren.
VI. How do we respond to gossip?
A. Do not build close friendships with those who gossip.
B. Be prepared, there is a dung platter coming your way!
C. Do not entertain gossip with your ears.
D. Flush it---out of your mind
E. Stop it---don’t repeat it
1. “The three essentials rules when speaking of others are: Is it true? Is
it kind? Is it necessary?”
F. Cover it---under the blood of Jesus!
G. Salt it---Pour the salt of God’s word on the situation
1. Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one.”
H. Leave it alone---gossip left alone will eventually dry up
I. Turn it into fertilizer---turn revealed situations into opportunities for prayer, ministry, and rescue.
J. Walk in love---believe and speak the best about people
K. Take concerns up the ladder of authority and not down the ladder.
VII. Remedy for those entangled in Gossip
A. Acknowledge your sin
B. Repent to God for the sin of gossiping
C. Repent to those to whom you have been gossiping
D. Repent to those about whom you have been gossiping if they are aware of the gossip
E. Commit your heart to God
F. Renew your mind to the word of God concerning love and the sin of gossiping
G. Ask God to help you bridle your tongue
H. Look for the good in others and bless them