The root of gossip is negativity, judgment and slander. Avoid associating with people who gossip. “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much” (Proverbs 20:19). You probably remember the old saying: “If you can’t say something good about others, don’t say anything at all.” Try and remember this when you feel tempted to say something not so nice about someone.
If you have been a gossiper, confess this as sin and ask Christ to forgive you. Keep your nose out of other people’s business.
- Never criticize another person, except to their own face with an intent to help. Criticism can never be “constructive” if expressed to anyone else.
- If your “friends” start bad-mouthing others to you, stop them in their tracks — refuse to be a partaker in this. (1 Tim 5:22).
- Avoid association with persons who gossip. (Prov. 20:19).
“I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence” (Psalms 39:1).
Remember: If you don’t gossip about others, the chances of someone gossiping about you is much, much less. Plus you’ll set an example, and people will respect you for not taking part in it. So rise above it, because you’re better than that!
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I can be such a gossip sometimes, it’s bad. This article really made me think about what’s at stake and why I need to mend my ways.
If people would stop gossiping especially in high school we would not have anything to talk about!
Kylie Elise- There are so many things to talk about besides negativity. It might take a little thinking, but be creative.
If that’s all you have in common with your friends, how to talk badly about others, then maybe you need to rethink that.
this is good advice. sometimes my friends and I gossip too much. I really want to say something. it’s hard.
gossip has destroyed so much in my life recently… wish id known all this before this happened :/
I usually only gossip with my sisters… because it feels good to say mean things about who we’re mad at or whatever, but I know it’s bad and we shouldn’t do it. It’s a hard thing to stop. But not impossible. 🙂
Do you think we should ALWAYS avoid those who gossip? If there is gossip within the body of Christ we should not simply ignore it. We need to love on them and confront the issue as brothers and sister in Christ I believe. The question is then, how do we LOVE on someone as Christ would who brings such negativity and we naturally WANT to avoid??
I absolutely loathe gossip. While in a play, I told my “boyfriend” I did not want to date until both of us were in high-school. He is going into seventh grade, I am going into ninth. For his age, he is INCREDIBLY mature, and a gentleman( or so I thought). But of course, everyone around us took that as a breakup. WE HAD NEVER BEEN DATING. It went around SO FAST!!! By the end of the day, people were calling me a selfish little witch!!! And that I was a little brat for breaking up with him in front of everyone. He never once defended me. I listened to a LOT of Klove that day.