Entitled to Slander and Gossip

I've read a few things in the last days in the Bible about 2 issues we can all potentially struggle with. I want these 2 issues to be right in my life and I hope we all do. So...here we go.

Our tongue is an evil and causes most of the relationship issues that we all have. One of the things that can really cause harm to others in our lives or in the church is when those who feel they have some entitlement to slander and gossip work their magic. Through all of my 24 years of ministry I have never seen one time when the slander and gossip of the "entitled" has brought about healing and unity. It only destroys. Here are a few verses in regard to these two problems with our tongue.

1 Timothy 5:13 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.

Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

Proverbs 11:13 13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Titus 2:3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,

Why some think they get to ignore the scripture and speak evil behind the back of someone else is beyond me. It is though, just like most things, where we simply choose to ignore what the Bible says as it does not fit into our lifestyle choice of some particular sin. We think it is not a big deal to God. Here are some thoughts from my experience with people like this:

• They think they are entitled because they are better than other people
• They are prideful and arrogant as to the issues of their lives
  
• They usually have low self-esteem and that is why they must put down and destroy others
• They have to be in the know, therefore they must share what they know. Often it is "spiritualized" from their slant of things and at times it is spoken by way of prayer request.
  
• They always change the perception of both the person hearing the slander and how people see the person who is being slandered
• Gossipers and Slanderers think the taste of evil words is sweet to the tongue, therefore revealing their hypocrisy and love of evil
  
• Their mouth reveals the true condition of their heart.
  

James said it in this way in James 3:10 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

If this an issue that is strong or an occasional problem for you, I would say these words to you:
Shut Your Mouth, Hold your tongue, Shut your mouth, Bite Your Tongue, Shut Your Mouth. Speak well of people and do not speculate about them in your mind or with your words before other people and consider it "your duty" to inform. It is sin and it is evil.

Remember these words from Jesus in Matthew 15: 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Our mouth is a tattle tale as to the true condition of our heart and if someone gives false witness of others or slanders them, then according to Jesus, those things defile us.

We also should not stand there and listen to that kind of talk either when we know it is wrong.

It is amazing how we just can't love others, forgive them, extend understanding, be not so quick to judge, and to decide instead to not say anything at all if we can't say something nice. I think my mom told me that when I was little.

Jesus said that people will know us by our love. Is it loving to speak evil of someone, malign their motives or automatically doubt and discount them and then share those doubts with others.

It is loving to guard our tongues, be kind, forgiving, and to be understanding. Maybe this is one of the main reasons people don't know about the love of God is because we have given a wrong picture of our love for one another by our words.

After all, it is "His kindness that is meant to lead us to repentance" Romans 2:4b.

Maybe the people in our personal world today could really use a little kindness in the harsh world we live in.