Did you hear about gossip?

Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite little pet sin – gossip.

People spend a fifth to two-thirds or more of their daily conversations gossiping, according to the New York Times article, “Have You Heard? Gossip Turns Out to Serve a Purpose.”

This article claims from a psychological perspective that gossip serves several purposes in our everyday lives. But from a Christian point of view, is this really the truth?

Gossip, slander and lies are mentioned countless times in the bible.

Matthew 12:36-37 even says, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Gossip is every empty word, folks.

If gossip is so integrated into our lives that we sometimes spend a third of our everyday conversation dwelling on it, why is it pushed over as a “little sin?”

Even those who are not Christians see the harm in gossip, that’s why we have movies like “Mean Girls,” “The Clique,” “Gossip” and countless others.

So why do it?

Sometimes we simply gossip because we have a problem with something. Combating gossip can be fairly simple: confront your problems, whether it is an annoying co-worker, a member in a group project or a teacher’s harsh grade. Just attempt to solve problems. Otherwise, you’re just complaining.

The other form of gossip, basically slander, is harder to get rid of. This gossip stems from our insecurities and our personal need for acceptance.

People tend to spread good gossip when they feel accepted and they spread more derogatory gossip when they feel marginalized, according to the same New York Times article.

Here’s where a group of Christians and God come into play. There is a reason why gossip is wrong: it hurts people and it seeks validation from people rather than God. The reason gossip is so hard to get rid of is because it is a heart issue and it is a common one. The way to combat this type of gossip is to focus on God and the love of his people.

If everyone simply thought about his or her words more often perhaps we could cut down on the gossip. Even if we just refrained from partaking in half the gossip we hear everyday – collectively we could cut down half the gossip in the world.

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