Eight Flavors of Gossip
Proverbs 18:8 HCSB A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's
innermost being.
Gossip is like a secret craving. We say we don’t like it, but when it’s within reach, we
almost can’t resist it. We get a sudden appetite to know what we don’t know… about
somebody else.
Why is it so hard to stop? Proverbs 18:8 says,
 Proverbs 18:8 HCSB A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's
innermost being.
“No”, you might think. “Not me. I’m not into sharing the dirty details about a person’s life
just for fun.” However, gossip comes in many flavors, and it involves listening as well.
Proverbs 17:4 notes:
 Proverbs 17:4 HCSB A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to
a destructive tongue.
Yikes!
How do we know what’s gossip and what’s not gossip? We have discussed the issue of
lashon hara fairly often and you’ve been given ten basic rules that define what is and isn’t
lashon hara.
If that is not enough then ask God to reveal it to you. James 1:5 tells us:
 James 1:5 HCSB Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to
all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.
Today, rather than go through the ten rules of lashon hara again, I would like you to focus
on the idea that lashon hara is like a choice food. It has varieties of deliciousness. It’s like
going into Whitey’s Ice Cream store and having that full panoply of wonderful ice cream
displayed before you.
Have any of the types of gossip below been too tempting for you to resist lately?
1. Slander
It’s defined as spreading rumors or lies about a person with the goal of causing them
damage purposely. The written form of it is called libel.
The Bible mentions slander countless times in lists like this one:
 Colossians 3:8 HCSB But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath,
malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.
James 4:11 tells it straight:
 James 4:11 HCSB Don't criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or
judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you
are not a doer of the law but a judge.
2. Dishing
“Dishin’ the dirt” basically means sharing the “juicy info” you learned about someone.
Maybe the intent isn’t to directly cause damage, but by keeping the gossip alive, it continues
to spread and taint the image of the person it’s about.
 Proverbs 20:19 HCSB The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid
someone with a big mouth.
James says,
 James 5:9 HCSB Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be
judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!
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3. Rumors
You hear something, and it’s not good, and it’s also not confirmed as true. However, you
tell someone or ask someone else about it to get more info. The rumor mill turns and turns
and the gossip spreads.
Proverbs 13:3 says,
 Proverbs 13:3 HCSB The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who
opens his lips invites his own ruin.
4. Backbiting
It’s a flavor of gossip that involves speaking spiteful or slanderous words about another
who is not present and can do nothing in defense. It’s secretive, and the Bible actually
mentions it by name in Proverbs 25:23:
 Proverbs 25:23 HCSB The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry
looks.
Some of you may say “Oh Pastor, I don’t gossip. I don’t slander. I don’t back bite. I don’t
do any of this!” Really? Let me ask you something. Do you listen to it? Does anyone ever
come to you with complaints about another and you simply sit there listening without rebuking
them? Listen to what the Bible has to say on the matter. This is what we are SUPPOSED to
do when someone comes to us with gossip or slander.
 Psalms 101:5 HCSB I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor; I
cannot tolerate anyone with haughty eyes or an arrogant heart.
 Psalms 101:7-8 HCSB No one who acts deceitfully will live in my palace; no one who
tells lies will remain in my presence. 8 Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of
the land, eliminating all evildoers from the LORD's city.
With slander being the immediate context we are commanded:
 Leviticus 19:17 HCSB "You must not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your
neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him.
5. Not-Really-Joking Jokes
Have you ever taken some part of truth and turned it into a joke about someone that
makes another question their character? It also serves as a passive way to spread more
gossip. Let me give you an example. Perhaps you say something like “Maybe she will
actually get off the couch today long enough to blahblah. Ha! Ha!” Or in the modern parlance,
“LOL”.
When the joking is harmful to another, it’s called mockery. How can you know a mocker?
 Proverbs 21:23-24 HCSB The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself
out of trouble. 24 The proud and arrogant person, named "Mocker," acts with
excessive pride.
 Proverbs 9:7-8 HCSB The one who corrects a mocker will bring dishonor on himself;
the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt. 8 Don't rebuke a mocker, or he will
hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
In addition, Proverbs 22:10 says,
 Proverbs 22:10 HCSB Drive out a mocker, and conflict goes too; then lawsuits and
dishonor will cease.
And Psalm 1:1 starts out:
 Psalms 1:1 HCSB How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the
wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers!
6. Planted Seeds
The Bible tells us we reap what we sow. That works both positively and negatively. With
that in mind, this type of gossip is said in such a way to make the listener question or assume
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something about the character of a person. For example: “Isn’t it weird how he keeps staring
at your girlfriend when you’re not looking?”
James tells us,
 James 3:5-6 HCSB …though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great
things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The
tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies; it
pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.
A warning from the bible from Proverbs 16:28 goes like this: “A perverse man stirs up
dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” If you are a planter of the seeds of
dissension and lashon hara, then the Bible has a name for you – PERVERSE!
7. Whispered Innuendo
These subtle insinuations can mislead others into thinking wrong thoughts, especially if
the conclusions are based on gossipy hunches. Here’s an example: It’s interesting how he
was “out of town” the night she was murdered.
Proverbs tells us,
 Proverbs 26:20-21 HCSB Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies
down. 21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for
kindling strife.
Let me give you a warning from the Bible on this issue:
 Luke 12:3 HCSB Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the
light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on
the housetops.
 Matthew 12:35-37 HCSB A good man produces good things from his storeroom of
good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. 36 I tell you that
on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they
speak. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned."
8. Got-This-All-Wrong Gossip
You admit you probably got it wrong, but spread it anyway, because it’s still touching on
some points that could be true; or would sound exciting if true. Either way, it usually starts out
like this: “I probably got this all wrong, but apparently…”
This is one of the most common types of gossip. We think we’re just passing on the latest
news. Could it hurt someone? Meh! Maybe. However, if we don’t even know the person, does
it matter? James 4:17 says,
 James 4:17 HCSB So, for the person who knows to do good and doesn't do it, it is a
sin.
I think that today this sin is most prevalent in the form of forwarded emails. Someone
sends us the latest diatribe about President Obama’s citizenship (or lack thereof) or how he’s
the antichrist come to take all our guns or whatever, and without verifying any of the relevant
facts, we simply mindlessly forward it on because it suits us, because it fits our world view,
because it makes it seem like somehow we’re in the know about something.
Thankfully, Jesus gave us an example to follow:
 Matthew 10:26-27 HCSB "Therefore, don't be afraid of them, since there is nothing
covered that won't be uncovered, and nothing hidden that won't be made known. 27
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on
the housetops.
And Paul tells us how to overcome these delicious but vicious flavors of gossip:
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
Romans 12:2 HCSB Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect
will of God.
 Romans 12:21 HCSB Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Don’t be like everyone else. Be counter-cultural. Be generally quiet and carefully consider
the words that are about to come out of your mouth or typed onto your email or Facebook
page. Let your words be few but powerful. Speak so much good that there is no room for evil
in your conversation.
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