What Does the Bible Say About Gossip and Slander?

Gossip is an extremely dangerous sin.  You may think nothing of sharing a juicy tidbit with friends over coffee.  You may rationalize you are not hurting anyone.  There are whole groups dedicated to gathering and sharing the gossip of the day.  The Church is not immune to this practice.  Gossip has become associated with Christian churches in some circles.  It is an often given reason for people leaving the church.

Yet, God does not minimize or justify gossip and slander.  God is clear He despises them.   He puts tale-bearing and character assassination in the same category as murder, hating God, and inventing evil.  James says your religion is worthless if you don’t have a tight reign on your tongue.  God promises to destroy those who slander their neighbor.  Can God be any clearer on the issue?  He really dislikes gossip and slander.

This can be hard to digest.  Isn’t gossip just a victimless crime?  Why does it matter so much?

Jesus’ greatest hope for His church is that Christians live in communion.  This is a greater unity that any worldly group could ever hope for.  Jesus compares it with the bond He has with His Father.  He prays for His church that you would be one with your fellow Christians as He and the Father are one.

Gossip and Slander destroy this oneness.  A loose tongue sows seeds of division.  The gossip and slanderer privately attack their brothers and sisters.  They murder reputations and ministries.  They attack sheep Jesus paid for with His blood.  They just do it privately and tend to think little of it. Gossip and slander are the opposite of loving.  They are Christianity without love.  

Jesus is the shepherd of those vulnerable sheep.  He is in charge of defending them.  He is armed and ready to fight those attacking His flock…no matter where they are coming from.

God takes your words very seriously.  You will be held responsible for every idle word that comes from your lips.

Have you considered this as you are tempted to light a fire of gossip?  Have you thought about how much Jesus loves the target of your angry slander before

it comes forth?

Do you know God can hear you?

A Christian can only live life protecting their character.  God is responsible for protecting your reputation.  He will do a great job at it.

Here are 23 Powerful Bible Verses Showing God’s Heart on Gossip and Slander

1)  Romans 1:28-31

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Can it be any clearer?

2)  Psalm 101:5

Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.

3)  Matthew 12:36

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak…

4)  Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

5)  James 1:26

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

6)  Titus 3:2

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

7)  Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

8)  Proverbs 16:28

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

9)  Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

10)  Psalm 101:5

Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.

11)  Proverbs 20:19

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

12)  Proverbs 18:8

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

13)  Proverbs 26:20

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

14)  James 4:11

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

15)  Psalm 34:13

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

16)  Proverbs 17:4

An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

17)  Proverbs 11:13

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

18)  1 Timothy 5:13

Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

19)  Proverbs 10:18

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

20)  2 Timothy 2:16

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

21)  Proverbs 19:5

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

22)  James 3:8

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

23)  1 Thessalonians 4:11

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,