What is gossip?

[50_Cent's_dog]

I have a question. What is gossip? I think that it means saying bad things about other people. If you say nice things about people is it still gossip?

I just never knew the answer.

Thanks,

Kevin

[David from New Bern]

I have a question. What is gossip? I think that it means saying bad things about other people. If you say nice things about people is it still gossip?

I just never knew the answer.

Thanks,

Kevin

Gossip is the intent to destroy someone reputation with a true or false story. I have heard people share something and when told why are you gossiping, they insist, "I'm not gossiping its true". One could even argue the failure to correct someone destroying someone's reputation is passive gossip. There is something disgraceful about human nature that wants to devalue others publicly, which makes them more important or superior. Someone has said that this is counterfeit righteousness that Satan promotes. When you compare your life to a fellow man.

[willsmom]

I agree with everyone so far as to what gossip is. Now for confession. I am a recovering gossiper (is that a word?). I wasn't one that spread it but I listened to it. I thought since I only listened that I was in the "safe" zone. Then I learned that listening to the mess is just as bad. I have been looking and praying for ways to break the cycle of listening and I would like to know peoples take on escaping gossipers.

K

[branchesofHim]

I have a question. What is gossip? I think that it means saying bad things about other people. If you say nice things about people is it still gossip?

I just never knew the answer.

Thanks,

Kevin

Gossip is basically spreading of news and information about other people weather good or bad. When I think of gossip i think of the "Flintstones" cartoon where Wilma & Betty would stand at the fence wall conversing about everybody elses business and problems.

I gossip to people when I spread to you somebody elses business of problems and it has nothing to do with you.

Gossipers are busubodies.

1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Gossipers are "Talebearers".

Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Good answers.

One more thing, God hates gossip.

Proverbs 6

"16": These six things doth the LORD hate : yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

"17": A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

"18": An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

"19": A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren .

Peace.

[50_Cent's_dog]

Thanks for all your answers. I now know what a busybody is. I never knew what the Bible was talking about when I read about busybodys. Now I know.

I also sort of enjoyed listening to people talking about others. Although I started to feel guilty about listening to it. That is a good question. How do you escape when people are gossiping?

[RustyAngeL]

I have a question. What is gossip? I think that it means saying bad things about other people. If you say nice things about people is it still gossip?

I just never knew the answer.

Thanks,

Kevin

Gossip is the intent to destroy someone reputation with a true or false story. I have heard people share something and when told why are you gossiping, they insist, "I'm not gossiping its true". One could even argue the failure to correct someone destroying someone's reputation is passive gossip. There is something disgraceful about human nature that wants to devalue others publicly, which makes them more important or superior. Someone has said that this is counterfeit righteousness that Satan promotes. When you compare your life to a fellow man.

I think that about says it all. Gossip will always destroy someone else. As Christians we should refrian from all slander.

[David from New Bern]

Thanks for all your answers. I now know what a busybody is. I never knew what the Bible was talking about when I read about busybodys. Now I know.

I also sort of enjoyed listening to people talking about others. Although I started to feel guilty about listening to it. That is a good question. How do you escape when people are gossiping?

I think everyone needs to have a Christian posture that would hopefully let people know ahead that I'm not interesting in tearing down but building up people. I believe in those cases where we are an involuntary audience to gossip we have a responsibility to defend the victim by firmly identiying that this is not a productive conversation. We really need to remember how fragile all of our reputations and testimony really are. Of course, that will not make you the most popular person in the room. But, standing for righteousness and defending the defenseless is a responsibility of the believer. I guarantee if you do this, the conversation about the victim will stop, but the conversation about you will just begin. That is the reason, we are told we will be persecuted for righteousness sake. However, such events are where we earn rewards in Heaven for being the voice of reason.

Edited March 20, 2006 by David from New Bern

[Ovedya]

Anytime someone comes up to you and says, "Guess what I heard about..." Or, "I heard from....that....about..."

That's gossip.