Good Gossip

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Good Gossip

Rev. John Terhorst

In wanting to introduce these thoughts I need to begin with a couple of confessions.

Confession number one: I recently found myself browsing through a copy of “Woman’s Day”. It was very colourful, full of catchy headlines and contained lots of pictures. Very appealing! I do read, or browse through a number of magazines, but I rarely find the time or have the interest to read this particular one. That leads me to confession number two. We do not often, if at all, have a copy of “Woman’s Day” in the house. So where was I to spot this one? Yes, some who know me reasonably well may have guessed. We were at a MacDonald’s Family Restaurant. We were there supporting a company that is often the target of anti-globalisation protestors. I suspect they probably home in on it after having had a meal there, and because it is an easy target. It’s a bit like the anti-globalisation protestor outside a “Nike Outlet” wearing “Nike” runners. When confronted with his hypocrisy, he lamented they were the only runners on the market.

Anyway, we were at ‘maccas’. And that is where the following caught my attention, “Good Gossip”. The magazine offered a number of pages containing good gossip.

Now Christians believe that it is wrong to gossip, right? Of course! Gossip is wrong. The Bible says the following things about those who distribute gossip as easily as they make themselves a cup of tea.

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” Proverbs 11:13
“A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” Proverbs 16:28
“Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” Proverbs 26:20

Gossip is destructive in relationships. It has no place in the family of God. It is not to be tolerated by the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. The Bible provides Christians with an alternative.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25

However, too many Christians seem to be utterly convinced about the concept of good gossip. Of course we would not call it gossip. We dress the gossip up and present it as being quite suitable for wide distribution. We may clothe it with the “I’m only telling you this because I’m concerned” dress. Or we introduce it with a comment like, “Gossip is wrong so I can only tell you this once.” In its most hypocritical dress, gossip is passed on as a prayer concern.

Gossip, even if that is not what we label it, is still wrong. And we all know it. We are also very familiar with the distinction between gossip and a genuine prayer concern. A concern the Body of Christ needs to be in prayer about. I would be terribly dismayed if our churches did not have prayer chains. After all, the Bible states without condition,

“The prayer of a righteous man [and woman] is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b

There are things we need to tell each other. Christians do have authentic concerns they need to communicate. God would not have it any other way. That is what it means to belong in the living Body of Jesus Christ, the Church. Good gossip for the Christian is about as possible as committing good sin! There is no such entity as good disobedience to God. Disobedience and sin, also in the form of gossip needs to be confessed and repented of.

However, as the age-worn phrase has it, let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water. Good communication between the siblings of Jesus is a necessity. Listening attentively to each other an integral part of living in community. Addressing communal concerns communally is an imperative. But gossip has no part to play. Gossip is cancerous. It undermines the very relationships on which Jesus builds community.

A Prayer: Dear Father, I too am guilty of the sin of gossip. I know it breaks your law, and destabilizes friendships. I want to repent of it. Forgive me, and help me at all times to speak the truth in love with my brother and sister in Jesus Christ. Amen.

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