Why We Believe What We Believe About Gossip Matthew 12:33 – 37

1. Gossip Is A Sin What Is Gossip? Gossip involves simply talking about someone who is not present at the time. Random House College Dictionary: "Idle talk or rumor, esp. about the personal or private affairs of others.”

1. Gossip Is A Sin Exodus 20:16, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Leviticus 19:16, “You shall not go about as a talebearer (“slanderer” NASV, ESV, NIV) among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.” Hebrew word for "slander" simply means "bad report."

1. Gossip Is A Sin Romans 1:28-32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers (“gossips” NASV), 30 backbiters (“slanderers” NASV), haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32

2. Gossip Originates In The Heart 33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle (“careless” NASV, “empty” NIV, word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37

2. Gossip Originates In The Heart “9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

3. Gossip Can Destroy Congregations “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings (“slanderers” NASV), whisperings (“gossips” NASV), conceits, tumults.” 2 Corinthians 12:20

3. Gossip Can Destroy Congregations “9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words (“spreading malicious nonsense about us” NIV). And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” 3 John 9-10

3. Gossip Can Destroy Congregations 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 stirring up dissension among His people.”

4. Gossip Can Be Stopped The bible says “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

4. Gossip Can Be Stopped Before we repeat a story, we must ask ourselves the THINK acronym: Is it True? Is it Harmless? Is it Inspiriting Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? If it isn’t, don’t repeat it.

4. Gossip Can Be Stopped Wouldn't this old world be better if folks we meet would say, I know something good about you! And then treat you that way? Wouldn't it be fine and dandy, if each handclasp warm and true Carried with it this assurance, I know something good about you! Wouldn't life be lots more happy if the good that's in us all, Were the only thing about us, that folks bothered to recall? Wouldn't life be lots more happy, if we praised the good we see? For there's a lot of goodness in the worst of you and me. Wouldn't it be nice to practice that fine art of thinking too? You know something good about me! I know something good about you!

So Where Is My Heart? Ready To Obey The Gospel This Morning? Hear Him (Romans 10:17) Believe Him (Mark 16:16) Repent Of Sins Against Him (Acts 2:38) Confess Him (Acts 8:37) Be Baptized Into Him (Acts 22:16) Live For Him (Galatians 2:20) Ready To Be Restored This Morning? Come Back To Him (Matthew 11:28-30) Repent (Acts 8:22) Pray (James 5:16)