©2002 Charles Darby
Changed thinking will change our speech.
Psa 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Backbiteth - means slander or talebearer. If we don't stop slandering others with our lips we will not dwell in God's presence.
Prov 26:22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The main problem with slander and talebearing is that facts are not required. All that's needed is a willing listener.
We can see God's thinking on gossip and slander in Romans 1:28 - 30. He puts it alongside wickedness, haters of God, immorality, greed, envy, murder, deceit, etc. If we are guilty of doing this we won't have the abiding presence of God in our life.
Many times we have been in a service where the presence of God was so real and after service would go out to eat with a group from the church. Soon the conversation would turn from the service to gossip and the presence of God would leave. Have you heard the latest? (What are the people in the restaurant hearing from us?) Our Lord will not abide in the presence of gossip or slander.
The New Testament gives us two titles for our adversary Lucifer. He is called Satan and devil. (Rev 12:9) The title devil means "slanderer." He doesn't need the facts; he will just slander on suspicion. He is also a "false accuser." He accuses God to us, us to God, us to the brethren, our brethren to us and us to ourselves.
Saints we don't need to talk about one another and share our "have you heard" suspicions. Proverbs 10:18 He that uttereth a slander, is a fool. We don't want to be in that company!
Maybe we should remember what parents, at one time, told their children. First is it true? Second is it kind? Third is it necessary? If not don't tell it. Do we, who love the Lord, need to display our dirty linen in public?
Sometimes when God begins to discipline one of His children others began to talk and spread gossip. This should not be. We should try to comfort and help. As I was growing up, when my brother was being disciplined, I better keep silent or I would get the same!
While the term "devil" means slanderer, the term "Satan" means "adversary or true accuser." If he can get the facts he will try to destroy this one. Satan doesn't need us to help him but the accused saint does. James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
I believe the Church needs conversion from sin, not so much conversation about sin. Many times we need to get the plank out of our own eye so we can help get the speck out of our brother's eye. If a brother does fall we should try to restore, not destroy. While God forgives and forgets, many saints don't.
God has not called us to slander
or expose His children, but to cover and to love them back to a warm relationship
with Himself.
Prov
11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit
concealeth the matter.
If we would stop listening to gossip and slander it would disappear. God hates the pointing of the finger. If we, through the help of the Holy Spirit, can learn to guard our tongue we will be on the road to real Spiritual growth.
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