Romans 1:29:
Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.
2 Corinthians 12:20:
For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
Proverbs 18:8 says:
Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
Proverbs 18:7:
The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips.
Proverbs 18:6:
Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. “I know what most easily destroys churches. It is not crack cocaine. It is not government oppression. It is not even lack of funds. Rather, it is gossip and slander that grieves the Holy Spirit.”
-- Jim Cymbala
“. . . is seriously to consider that there is great danger, yea, many times most danger, in the smallest sins.”
“We are apt to take no notice of them till they are grown to that strength that we are ready to cry out, the medicine is too weak for the disease.”
-- Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices
Two Criteria for Gossip:
1. It's Negative
2. Nobody Needs to Know
Gossip is personal betrayal!
Proverbs 20:19:
A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.
When you're tempted to "just say it!:"
1. Gossip is NOT a "small sin"
2. It's a terrible stain on YOU
3. It's almost certainly not completely true
4. You have your own junk
