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Proverbs 6:16-19 " These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. "
Gossip: Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.
Slander: The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.
"Lately amongst believers it seems that everyone is our enemy EXCEPT satan"
Over the years it has become apparent that the church is HUNGRY! Not hungry for God or even souls, but hungry for gossip and slander disguised as discernment and exposure. Every week the blood thirsty Christian social media community has a new target for their venomous chatter and commentary that tears down everybody and everything but the Kingdom of darkness. Usually the targets of these rants are people that are well known individuals in the Church community. Most of the time the individuals that are fueling the campaign to defame others are many times retaliating out of a place of rejection and bitterness. Sadly, some do this to gain a following by finding other people who have the same agenda to defame and tear down others. There is a saying that the enemy of my enemy is a friend and sadly gossip and slander becomes the reason some people begin to bond.
"Do not speak ill of those that are standing on platforms and sitting in seats that you secretly desire"
Many times gossip and slander are released out of a place of false discernment or even jealousy. This is especially true when the person fueling the gossip and slander secretly desires the validation, success, and influence of those they speak against. We have to learn to stop being caught up in the hype of someone telling it like it is on social media and instead we need to begin to question the source of the information and the details that are being shared. In other words how do you know so much about a person that you have never met or do not personally know? The source of information matters because you can be guilty of passing on a lie from hell not realizing the source is a liar that is bitter, rejected and jealous. We have to be more aware when we are partaking in gossip (something God hates) and slander.
"Believers need to stop attacking people and referring to the aftermath as warfare"
We should not enjoy or encourage interaction in person or online that can destroy the life and reputation of another. Sins of the tongue are on a rise in the body of Christ as many seem to connect and get enjoyment out of spending time trying to discredit and demonize their brothers and sisters in Christ. Too many are attacking their fellow brothers and sisters and when some sort of backlash comes they call it warfare. This is why gossip and slander and the aftermath have to stop being "spiritualized" and hidden behind discernment, warfare, prophecy, God's judgment and so forth.
"The church has the same appetite to tear people down that we see in the world"
Christian blogs and magazines have begun looking more and more like tabloids that create and publish content to satisfy the appetites of the goats, or those who like to feast on garbage and negativity. On a large scale believers have become self-righteous as we love mercy for ourselves but want judgment for others. It is hypocritical to publicly demonize well known believers for falling short and making a mistake while you sin all day in private because no one knows who you are.
And if many are honest with themselves they would admit that they probably couldn't handle ridicule, slander, and lies on a large scale. Many people cannot stand under the same pressure and scrutiny that they cause, applaud, and encourage. We all have to come to a place of praying for one another first instead of being quick to openly discredit and slander one another. What happened to compassion and mercy or even going to your sister or brother if you have an ought or issue with them? One thing I have found is many times gossipers and slanderers are many times very rejected as are the people that join their circle of evil communication ( I Corinthians 15:33). This blog post is by no means a call to cover sin or ignore wickedness instead it is a call to stop engaging in gossip and slander.
At the end of the day Jesus said it best in the book of John.
John 8:7 "So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."
There are four things that I know for sure:
1. God is not pleased with gossiping, slandering and defaming one another under the guise of being spiritual.
2. People need to actually preach the gospel instead of preaching against each other and spending time dealing with non-existent haters.
3. We need to examine our hearts and lives more than we examine anyone or anything else. [Matthew 7:5]
4. We have to learn to use our mouths to pray, encourage and speak well of one another.
