Scarring Words

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Negative words that are spoken about somebody can inflict deeper wounds and do more damage to a person than someone who would inflict physical injury. Our words hold the power of life and death according to this verse. Words burn deep scars. The negative words we speak to our spouse, children, and family members, fellow church family can wound for life.

When we look at some of the things God hates the most they have to do with what is spoken by the mouth. Proverbs 6 speaks of 7 things the Lord hates...the lying tongue...a false witness...one who stirs up trouble among the brethren. How does one stir up trouble...a lying tongue...gossip and slander?

Gossip is a part of so many of God's children lives. Christians do it every day. It's as common as making coffee in the morning, and many Christians do it so much that they do not realize they are doing it. Let's look at what the Bible says about the gossip or one that slanders.

Romans 1:29-32 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

When we look at the scriptures in Romans 1 we read things like unrighteousness, sexual immorality, covetousness, murder, and violence, and say that’s what God doesn’t like. But we skip over things like whispering, gossiping, backbiting, or slander. Those things are just as bad as what we call the big sins. And what else these verses say not only is it wrong for those who do this but also those who listen to it.

When we read anything in the Bible concerning gossip or slander, we are forbidden to speak it or spread it, we are also forbidden to listen to it. Stay away from those that gossip. When they start to spread gossip end the conversation immediately. If they continue to gossip tell them they are gossiping.

This is what is really happening when you gossip...you want others to join so that they will have a negative view of the person you are talking about and once you tell them about what someone did they will proceed to tell someone else.

What is gossip...Gossip or evil speaking is when you talk about someone and tell of something bad they have done and you feel good about it. Gossip or evil speaking is when you talk about a person’s situation or problems and you use words like “I heard or they said.” Gossip or evil speaking is passing on negative information about someone to another person and it escalates into further discussion than what was originally said. We should keep our mouths shut...if it not our business or doesn’t concern us.

We will be judged by our words.

Matthew 12:36-7 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

The next time you feel the urge to gossip remember this verse.

1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.