Gossip

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others (Ephesians 4:29).

Why do we enjoy gossip so much? While you are waiting in line to pay for your groceries, it is hard to avoid looking at magazines which are devoted to scandalous behavior. Television is cluttered with programs that promise you all the juicy details about the private lives of famous people. When a high school student calls a friend, much of their conversation revolves around the other kids at school—what they are saying, what they are doing, how they are dressing, who they are dating.

One reason we enjoy gossip is because it makes us feel good about ourselves. When we are told that the woman living down the street is cheating on her husband, or that the man working at the next desk is a racist, we feel proud in knowing that we would never behave like that!

Sharing gossip also makes us feel like part of the group. We feel honored that someone would share sensitive information with us. We like being the center of attention when telling a story that no one else has heard yet.

And gossip provides us with a bit of a thrill. Maybe you’ve always wanted to do something dangerous or illegal or morally suspect, but have been too afraid to follow through. When you find out that someone else shares your secret desires and has acted on them, you want to know every detail—through gossip, you get to experience your fantasy second hand, at no risk to yourself.

Nothing good ever comes of gossip. When gossip makes us feel superior to others, we are less likely to love and more likely to judge. Gossip is a social crutch that is unnecessary and actually discourages emotional closeness; too often, we use gossip to avoid talking about important, personal things. And gossip tantalizes us with sinful behavior we would do well to avoid; the more we talk about doing something evil, the more we are tempted to try it. This is why Paul said, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things (Philippians 4:8).