![\"Buddy](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Buddy-Christ.jpg\")
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Dear buddy, what does God say about gossip?<\/span><\/p>\n Another good question this month.\u00a0 I love that you are willing to ask the tough questions.\u00a0 I am going to get a little technical on you first, so that we can come to a fuller understanding.\u00a0 When you ask about gossip, you are asking using the English word \u201cgossip\u201d. \u00a0Let\u2019s first look at the history of the word its self.<\/p>\n A gossip was originally a rather more serious and worthy person than they are now. In Old English the word was spelled godsibb and meant \u2018godfather or godmother\u2019, literally \u2018a person related to one in God\u2019; it came from sibb \u2018a relative\u2019, the source of sibling. In medieval times a gossip was \u2018a close friend, a person with whom one gossips\u2019, hence \u2018a person who gossips\u2019, later (early 19th century) \u2018casual conversation about other people\u2019.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n Today, gossip is defined as;<\/p>\n \u25a0 noun 2<\/strong> \u00a0chiefly derogatory a person who likes talking about other people\u2019s private lives.[2]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n Now let\u2019s look at what the Father has to say in the Bible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Leviticus 19:16 is says; \u201c\u00a0\u2018Do not go about spreading slander among your people. \u00a0\u201c\u00a0\u2018Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor\u2019s life. I am the Lord.<\/sup>\u201d[3]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The Father tells us that to speak in such a way, to slander, (derogatory remarks and\/or unsubstantiated reports) is prohibited.<\/p>\n In the book of Matthew, chapter 36\u201d\u00a0\u2026 I [Buddy Christ] tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.\u00a0 <\/sup>\u00a0For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.\u201d[4]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I died for all the sins of the world, even those done in gossip.\u00a0 Remember the words from Proverbs, which say; \u201cThe words of a talebearer [gossip] are as wounds, And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.\u201d[5]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Gossip is not life-giving but life-taking.\u00a0 Yes, I died for even the life-taking sin of gossip but I still want more for you and I still want more for all of My brothers and sisters, all of the children of the Father.<\/p>\n Often gossip is born out of some hurt of some wrong that was done.\u00a0 This wrong that was done may be perceived or real but needs to be dealt with in a life-giving way.\u00a0 Follow my words in Matthew 18, when I tell you, 15\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cIf your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16\u00a0<\/sup>But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that \u2018every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.\u2019\u00a0d<\/sup> 17\u00a0<\/sup>If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church [church council]\u2026\u201d[6]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n I hope this answered your question about gossip.\u00a0 The Father and I love you and all of My brother and sisters.\u00a0 We want no harm to come to any of you.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.\u201d[7]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n [1]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, eds., Concise Oxford English Dictionary<\/em> (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).
\n1<\/strong> \u00a0casual conversation or unsubstantiated reports about other people.<\/p>\n
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\n[2]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> Ibid
\n[3]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> The New International Version<\/em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Le 19:16.
\n[4]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> The New International Version<\/em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 12:36\u201337.
\n[5]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> The Holy Bible: King James Version<\/em>, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Pr 18:8.
\n[6]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> The New International Version<\/em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 18:15\u201317.
\n[7]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version<\/em> (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Jn 13:34.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"