GOSSIP

Sibling

“Godsib” (old Anglo Saxon word) God + sib (a relative)

Original Meaning of Gossip

Current Definition of Gossip Idle Tattler News Monger Ground less Rumor Chatter

II Corinthians 12:20 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

Proverbs 16:28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and gossip separates close friends.

Psalms 34:13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.

James 3:1-2 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

James 3:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.

James 3:4 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

James 3:5 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

James 3:7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,

James 3:8 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.

James 3:11 11 Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring?

James 3:12 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water

James 1: 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. March 1862 African Methodist Episcopal Church “Old Adage”

Proverbs 26:20-22 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

No Wood No Fire No Whispering No Quarreling

I Timothy 5:13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.

How to Avoid Gossip Avoid Gossipers

Avoiding Gossip Change the subject

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

Avoiding Gossip If not part of Problem or Solution Stay Out.

Avoiding Gossip If you have a habit of gossiping Ask God to change your heart…

“it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt…” Abraham Lincoln

Avoiding Gossip If you are a victim of gossip —try to confront those responsible.

Avoiding Gossip Evans Approach I won’t believe that about them unless they tell me themselves.

Eleanor Roosevelt Quote: “Great minds discuss ideas Average minds discuss events Small minds discuss people.”

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.

Table Sharing  What do we talk about with others GREAT–Ideas AVERAGE–Events SMALL-People  Do you avoid people who share what you said in confidence?