Yuck! Gossip and Slander

Yuck! Gossip and Slander

I saw a giant black boot in mid-stride as it stomped across the countryside. My view of the person only extended up to a dark pant leg. Whoever it was, they were in a hurry and planned to stop for no one. Then a miniature version of myself stepped onto this foot and clung to it as it carried me where I didn’t want to go.

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“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3, NIV)

The Lord gave me a stern warning.

“Be careful who you agree with and walk with. Make sure you know where they are headed. Align yourself entirely with Me and his side of light and life. Do not agree with anything the enemy has for you. His plans are always to lie, steal, and kill. Don’t let him have any of your emotional energy and hijack it for his plans instead of using it for your family and other people I have put into your life.”

“When you align yourself with someone else’s thinking without verifying or asking for the Lord’s wisdom. This is the beginning of trouble. The second the conversation steps into gossip or slander, stop and look around. Am I anywhere in the discussion? If not, get out of there.”

“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.” (Proverbs 18:8, NIV)

“When you listen to gossip. You begin to see evidence of the accused person’s guilt, confirming the other person’s suspicions, even when they aren’t valid. This is a dangerous way to live.”

“Someone will take you where I don’t want you to go, and disengaging from your connection with the person operating from false knowledge will be difficult. You will be associated with them.”

“Do you understand the seriousness of gossip?”

I cringed because the way He asked the question made me understand He was leaving it up to me to investigate it and struggle through it intellectually and spiritually to see what I was being invited to participate in.

The more I searched all the scripture regarding gossip and prayed, the more I realized how serious of a sin slander is. Let me walk you through some of the If—then thinking I processed through.

If the person you are slandering/ gossiping about is a Christian. Then you are tearing down a fellow warrior in the field. You are literally fighting the battle for the enemy. This person could very well be the answer to your prayers or your prayers for your children and you are actively hurting them. The words we speak out have spiritual weight and consequences.

If the person you are slandering/gossiping about is not a Christian, then you are a terrible witness for Christ. You are not displaying love, forgiveness, or grace for this person. The very cornerstone concepts of Christianity.

When faced with these facts, I went into repentance. I had a change of heart and a deeper understanding of His wisdom on this topic.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1, KJV)

People sometimes miss the second part of the verse. They readily believe and agree with the statement there is no condemnation, but they do not see the stipulation. That we must walk after the Spirit. We must not let others sweep us along in their destructive attacks on other people. We must disengage and begin to walk in the Spirit. Meaning, ask the Lord what He wants us to know about the person and how He wants us to pray. If we humble ourselves and live in this manner, then we will not be condemned. He will give us grace as we stumble forward on our journey with Him.

Prayer for you and me: Lord, how do I get myself into these situations? Please implant a mental trigger to immediately help me identify and avoid gossip and slander. I do not want to contribute to the kingdom of darkness in any way. I repent for when I have knowingly or unknowingly gossiped. Please, give me strength and wisdom to avoid this sin. In Jesus’ name. Amen.