a deadly cancer

NOTE: THIS WILL BE VERY BLUNT

There is no good form of cancer, right? No one sees the report from the doctor and says, "Yes! I got lymphoma!" [If they do, they have issues beyond my expertise]. We have a cancer spreading through the Church today [that has really been infecting us since days past]. This cancer is gossip a.k.a. slander a.k.a. [as my father would humorously phrase it] diarrhea of the mouth. Gossip in its rawest form is casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, involving details that are not confirmed as being true. A study has shown that there has been a cure for this condition. The cure is to take a big dose of Extra Strength Shut-Up. Gossip does nothing but causes quarrels. It is a sickness. It is a sin. The true remedy for this is Christ--not the dose of sarcastic medicine [although that helps]. What does the Bible say about gossip and slander?

Leviticus 19:16 – “Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”

Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” 

Romans 1:29 – “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips.” 

1 Timothy 5:13 – “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.” 

Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”  

Proverbs 18:8 – “The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” 

A few signs that you may be in denial about gossip:

Do you always seems to be in the latest drama?

Do you speak ill of people behind their back?

Do you always feel people are out to get you? [note: they wouldn't be if you wouldn't gossip]

Do you betray/ get betrayed by your friends?

Truthfully, examine your life. If you are a gossip...repent and turn from that sin. Let's start loving people and building them up rather than tearing them down to make ourselves feel better. OBEY CHRIST.