Languages that a Believer should never Speak.
The language of Gossip and the language of Slander should remain unspeakable and unlistenable to true Believers.
The Gossip Language is second, third, forth...etc. hand information that someone tells you without the consent of the person being gossiped about. Gossip can partially true, or completely false or even the whole truth and it can be motivated by good intentions, but the personal information about the person is always negative because the objective is to show them in a bad light.
The Slander Language is defined in scripture as accusatory verbalization that is injurious to a person's name and reputation? It is murder of a person's character by smearing one's reputation.
The languages of Gossip and Slander cloud people’s perceptions of another person unfairly and unjustly without their knowledge or consent. One major component in both of these language sins is that the person being discredited is unaware of what is happening. People who speak the language of Gossip and Slander usually avoid speaking directly to the one they are gossiping or slandering.
Speaking the language of Gossip and Slander is contrary to the biblical admonition to walk in love. Love “thinks no evil” and “believes the best of others” (1 Cor. 13).
People who speak these foreign languages are speaking the language of the devil. Satan’s nature is to accuse. He is called the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12). In fact, the word “Satan” means adversary, and the word “devil” literally means “slanderer.”
Tell tale signs of a spirit of accusation:
Being paranoid and suspicious of others.
Believing you have been placed in God's family to be a spiritual cop to site the wrongs of others.
Having bitterness toward others who disagree with you.
Easily taking offense.
Being envious and jealous of people.
Believing the worst about people.
Exaggerating the mistakes of people.
Refusing fellowship with a person because they believe different than you.
Reminding people of their past failures.
Imposing your law-keeping standards on others.
Spreading harsh judgments on misunderstandings without seeking clarification of what you are talking about.
Condemning people for misbehaviors that we ourselves commit.
Using other people as a scapegoat for our failings.
Demeaning other people to make ourselves look better.
Our relationship with Christ and with people should certainly give us reason for great caution with our words about other people. Paul said in Romans 14:15, “Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.” Could we not say also, “Do not by your words destroy your people for whom Christ died.”
The Bible shows the destructive nature of gossip and slander. It says, “The words of a gossiper are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts” (Prov. 18:8, 26:22). Gossip is likened unto poison that once someone drinks, they cannot get out of their system. And it always separates people. Even close friends and family.
Consider these biblical admonitions:
“A perverse person stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Prov. 16:28).
“Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Prov. 26:22).
“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool” (Prov. 10:18).
“Brethren, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it” (James 4:11).
“The tongue has the power of life and death . . . ” (Prov. 18:21).
“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all people” (Tit 3:1-2).
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph. 4:31).
“Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman” (Psalm. 15:1-3).
May our speech be seasoned with grace and love to others and about others, speaking “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph.4:29).
The Gossip Language is second, third, forth...etc. hand information that someone tells you without the consent of the person being gossiped about. Gossip can partially true, or completely false or even the whole truth and it can be motivated by good intentions, but the personal information about the person is always negative because the objective is to show them in a bad light.
The Slander Language is defined in scripture as accusatory verbalization that is injurious to a person's name and reputation? It is murder of a person's character by smearing one's reputation.
The languages of Gossip and Slander cloud people’s perceptions of another person unfairly and unjustly without their knowledge or consent. One major component in both of these language sins is that the person being discredited is unaware of what is happening. People who speak the language of Gossip and Slander usually avoid speaking directly to the one they are gossiping or slandering.
Speaking the language of Gossip and Slander is contrary to the biblical admonition to walk in love. Love “thinks no evil” and “believes the best of others” (1 Cor. 13).
People who speak these foreign languages are speaking the language of the devil. Satan’s nature is to accuse. He is called the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12). In fact, the word “Satan” means adversary, and the word “devil” literally means “slanderer.”
Tell tale signs of a spirit of accusation:
Being paranoid and suspicious of others.
Believing you have been placed in God's family to be a spiritual cop to site the wrongs of others.
Having bitterness toward others who disagree with you.
Easily taking offense.
Being envious and jealous of people.
Believing the worst about people.
Exaggerating the mistakes of people.
Refusing fellowship with a person because they believe different than you.
Reminding people of their past failures.
Imposing your law-keeping standards on others.
Spreading harsh judgments on misunderstandings without seeking clarification of what you are talking about.
Condemning people for misbehaviors that we ourselves commit.
Using other people as a scapegoat for our failings.
Demeaning other people to make ourselves look better.
Our relationship with Christ and with people should certainly give us reason for great caution with our words about other people. Paul said in Romans 14:15, “Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.” Could we not say also, “Do not by your words destroy your people for whom Christ died.”
The Bible shows the destructive nature of gossip and slander. It says, “The words of a gossiper are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts” (Prov. 18:8, 26:22). Gossip is likened unto poison that once someone drinks, they cannot get out of their system. And it always separates people. Even close friends and family.
Consider these biblical admonitions:
“A perverse person stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Prov. 16:28).
“Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Prov. 26:22).
“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool” (Prov. 10:18).
“Brethren, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it” (James 4:11).
“The tongue has the power of life and death . . . ” (Prov. 18:21).
“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all people” (Tit 3:1-2).
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph. 4:31).
“Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman” (Psalm. 15:1-3).
May our speech be seasoned with grace and love to others and about others, speaking “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph.4:29).
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