“Gossip, in all its forms, is inherently destructive.”

A thought by Nelson Searcy from his book, Tongue Pierced: How the Words You Speak Transform the Life You Live (p. 46). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

There are instructive words but there are also destructive ones.

Nelson says, “While it can creep into our conversations under a lot of guises, there are two main manifestations:

“1. Spreading lies about another person. Most of the time when people talk about someone behind his or her back, they don’t even know if what they are saying is true—and it’s usually not. They are likely just repeating what they have heard someone else say. By jumping on the bandwagon of gossip, they add to the proliferation of misinformation and hurtful lies.

“2. Discussing someone’s problems with anyone other than that person. Many people become convinced that they are actually doing good by talking among themselves about the negative circumstances in a third party’s life. They hide behind the excuse that they are concerned and say they want to help make things better when all they are really doing is gaining subversive pleasure by gossiping about what someone else is struggling with.”

Nelson goes on, “Gossip is a sin, plain and simple. Not only does it tear people down, but it also deteriorates trust. But here’s the thing most gossips don’t realize: while gossip is hurtful to those who are being gossiped about, it hurts the gossiper just as much, if not more. Those poisonous words seep into the soul and create toxicity from the outside in. King Solomon wasn’t silent on this issue either: ‘The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.’ (Prov. 18:8 NIV)”

Nelson then says, “They go down with some immediate satisfaction, but in short order, they start causing pain—as is the case with most sin. It’s impossible to gossip about someone else without being personally affected in a negative way.”

Would you determine with me to not be the start of gossip but to be the end?  Would you?

Yes, yes!