Why is gossip so bad?

James 1:26If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

James 3:3-6We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

What comes out of our mouths shows what is in our hearts. A person’s words show what kind of person they really are. Gossip, criticism, flattery, lying, and profanity are not only word problems, but heart problems as well. Being more careful with our words isn’t enough. First, we need a change of heart—then good, kind, and healing words will follow.

Leviticus 19:16“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.”

Gossip is specifically forbidden by God.

Proverbs 11:13A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

Gossips make poor friends. Gossips are demolition experts, trying to tear people down. Trustworthy friends form strong foundations to their relationships and build people up.

Romans 1:29Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.

God lists gossip along with other terrible sins, including greed, hate, envy, and murder.

1 Timothy 5:13They will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t.

Gossip often grows out of idleness, when we have nothing better to do than sit around talking about other people. Then we wind up saying things we later regret.

Matthew 7:1“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.”

Gossip puts us in the position of judging others, which is also a sin. In a court of law, rumors and opinions are not allowed because they might unjustly sway the opinion of the jury. When we gossip, we turn our living rooms into courtrooms where we sit as judge and jury. This allows rumor and opinion to color and often damage the reputations of others who have no chance to clarify the situation or defend themselves.

Proverbs 18:8Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.

Gossip is quickly and easily swallowed. Once swallowed, gossip’s poison seeps deep into our thoughts and our relationships.