A young neighbor likes to visit. English is her second language but she’s getting really good with it. So good, that she engages in two practices that grieve God and which I need to bring to her attention, now that she’s older (10) and I’m sure she can comprehend what I tell her. What are these practices? Gossip and Slander, especially the Backbiting version, where whomever is being gossiped about or slandered isn’t present so as to defend him- or herself.

I know, I know: We’re all guilty of this in some measure. It’s the (dark) spirit of the age, especially with television and social media being such manure-saturated arenas for it. But Jesus was clear that what comes out of the mouth (thoughts, words, memes, actions) is a clear indicator of what is in the heart. That should give every one of us pause … BIG PAUSE. Especially considering the time/age we’re in according to prophesy, though we are to obey God’s commands about this, no matter the age we’re in—or the age we are. What should be in the heart? A genuine love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and the Word of God, that is meant to be a “lamp for my foot and light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Here’s the thing: We can be guilty of these sins in thought, word (oral or written or meme), and or action. Jesus was quite clear that He and the Father consider any form of slander or gossip the same as murder … because we kill/murder the reputation of another. And Jesus said the punishment will fit the crime. A good name, once lost, is not soon recovered. However, this is not solely about the person being gossiped about—is it? That should give another pause, yes? We are all guilty.

Thankfully, scrolling through the one social site I use is becoming genuinely unappetizing, which means I’m more discerning about what I look at, who I look for, and how much time I spend there (I leave it open so I don’t have to keep logging in, but I do NOT stay on there long). Seeing posts from those who are Lost grieves me, but even worse is what Christians sometimes post. WE ALL NEED TO DO BETTER … because quite a few of us are forgetting (or ignoring) what God considers sins, transgressions, and iniquities.

Refresher: Sin—deliberate or not deliberate failure to do what we know is right, especially if we know it may or will have negative outcomes. Transgressions—willful trespassing/crossing a line we know we should not cross. Iniquity—to choose to do something we know we’re not to do and continue to do it without repentance. We risk a steady progression from sin to transgression to iniquity when/if we continue to feed our sin nature—through gossip, slander, backbiting, jokes that aren’t really jokes but are hurtful, and more. See the links about gossip provided farther down. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek.” Seems we’d all benefit from more godly humility and meekness. Because … we are all guilty.

Like those awful video title hooks overused on YouTube (so-and-so shreds/destroys/ends so-and-so). Or a later-evening program I’ve watched fairly regularly, which I should have stopped watching long ago. For one, the host and guests sometimes (usually too often) say things better left unsaid and are especially grievous to Holy Spirit. Recently, when I thought to watch it and then had to turn it off due to vulgar outbursts (theirs, not mine), I asked myself why I watch. Easy answer: Their often-intelligent, usually clever, snarky comments about people and current events feed my—yep—fleshly sin nature. “Well, it’s not me saying it—they’re saying it.” Nope. We are all guilty.

This form of gossip/slander is called Mocking. Proverbs 21:24 says, “Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.” And verse 9:8 says, “A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise.” In addition, Proverbs 22:10 says, “Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.” Psalm 1:1 starts out: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” We are all guilty.

Whatever we read or watch or listen to, we need to be honest with ourselves about how much of it actually informs us (or others) and how much is entertainment for our fleshly sin nature. My watching any such programs or videos, or even wanting to, grieves Holy Spirit. I get the why of it, however: True justice and accountability to/for wrongdoers for their wrongdoing is in short supply and often absent—often promised but never delivered. A need for righteousness is in the heart of every true saved follower of Jesus Christ, but God has commanded us to leave ultimate punishment and accountability to Him, as He is the only One worthy to justly deliver it to whom He rightly judges deserves it. We are to pray for wrongdoers. Especially because … we are all guilty.

Also Very Important to Keep in Mind: It is still gossip or slander to say, “We need to pray for so-and-so because… Wait till you hear this!” Nope. That’s the form called Dishing-the-Dirt. There’s a real difference between relaying information that’s needed, including for prayer, and feeding the flesh via gossip. Like with what I need to explain to my young neighbor, if she’s making up not-nice stories (slander), that’s a big problem. Adults who practice it can be sued. And if she’s telling a not-nice story about someone that is true, then her telling it needs to meet one or more of these requirements: Will it, in truth, help her in some measure to tell me? Will it, in truth, help someone else in some measure, including the person it’s about, if she tells me? Will it, in truth, help me in some measure, if she tells me? If it helps/feeds no one but her fleshly sin nature, that is sin and only sin. Continued practice can lead to transgression and into iniquity. We are all guilty.

Whatever feeds the fleshly sin nature always feeds one or more demons. Always. I pray you’ve not been taught to ignore the supernatural/spiritual aspect of God and reality revealed to us in His Word/ To do so is to call God a liar.

Whose work are we doing when we slander and gossip or imbibe in it as entertainment or self-righteousness? News Flash: It’s not us working for Jesus Christ. “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure” (Psalm 101:5). We are all guilty.

We’re so pleased with our cleverness, our clever snark about someone—anyone—as well as our “right” or “obligation” to report their sins to others, more often to feed fleshly sin nature than provide needed information, as though we have a right to dismiss that Jesus Christ gave His Blood and life on the Cross for them … as well as for us. It’s almost like saying, “Lord, you got it wrong about that one.” Intentional or unintentional, such thoughts, words, or memes mock God’s mercy and mock Jesus’ Blood shed for us out of God’s great mercy. We need to realize the Father takes this intentional or unintentional diminishing of His and His Son’s sacrifice seriously. We had better do so as well. “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” God’s Word tells us the measure of mercy we give to others will be given to us, whether that’s great measure or scarce measure. We are all guilty.

Question: If a Christian gossips to another Christian, how many Christians have sinned? Yep, we can actually cause another to sin when we treat a sin as though it’s not a sin, especially gossip—and when/if we allow it to continue. Galatians 6:1 tells us, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” James 5:19-20 says, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

As I said, such behaviors discussed here open doors to demons, giving them a right to attack us, every aspect of our lives, and even members of our family. It’s more serious than “simple tongue-wagging in the wrong way.” God told us in Ephesians 4 that we can be angry but not to sin because of it, and to address that anger before the sun goes down, otherwise, “you leave room for the Adversary.” It’s yet another way God tries to protect us from ourselves.

We are all guilty. May Holy Spirit convict us, the Father forgive us, and Jesus perfect us through His love and God’s Promise. May we love and fear Him enough to receive it. May we love Him enough to behave in a way that draws people to Jesus rather than pushes them away because we’re no different than anyone else—or, even worse, we’ve taken the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ upon us in vain.

Here are some further reminders for me and any of us who feel conviction from Holy Spirit.

CJB – JAMES 3: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely. For we all stumble in many ways; if someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who can bridle his whole body. If we put a bit into a horse’s mouth to make it obey us, we control its whole body as well. And think of a ship – although it is huge and is driven by strong winds, yet the pilot can steer it wherever he wants with just a small rudder. So too the tongue is a tiny part of the body, yet it boasts great things. See how a little fire sets a whole forest ablaze! Yes, the tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness. The tongue is so placed in our body that it defiles every part of it, setting ablaze the whole of our life; and it is set on fire by Gei-Hinnom itself. For people have tamed and continue to tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures; but the tongue no one can tame – it is an unstable and evil thing, full of death-dealing poison! With it we bless ADONAI, the Father; and with it we curse people, who were made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing! Brothers, it isn’t right for things to be this way. A spring doesn’t send both fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it? Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers? or a grapevine, figs? Neither does salt water produce fresh. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him demonstrate it by his good way of life, by actions done in the humility that grows out of wisdom. But if you harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don’t boast and attack the truth with lies! This wisdom is not the kind that comes down from above; on the contrary, it is worldly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disharmony and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure, then peaceful, kind, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And peacemakers who sow seed in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Be reminded: 21 Important Bible Verses About Idle Words (Be Careful)

Be reminded: 8 Types of gossip and what the Bible says about gossiping

Bible Verses about Slander And Gossip

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV : Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

James 1:26 ESV : If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Proverbs 20:19 ESV : Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Leviticus 19:16 ESV : You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

Proverbs 16:28 ESV : A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. Proverbs 26:20 ESV : For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

James 4:11-12 ESV : Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

1 Timothy 5:13 ESV : Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

Matthew 7:1-29 ESV : Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. …

Romans 1:28-32 ESV : And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Romans 6:1-23 ESV : What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. …

The above scriptures were copied and pasted from What Does the Bible Say About Slander And Gossip? I give thanks to God our Father in Heaven for His grace and mercy, and I thank and praise Him in the mighty and beloved Name of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen.