Volume 7
October 16, 2016
Number 21
There is one more misconception regarding gossip that needs to be examined before we move on to answering the question of: “How do I know if what I am doing is gossip or not?” Some individuals who are involved in sinful behavior try to use the fear of participating in gossip as leverage to constrain goodhearted folks, who have become privy to their sin, to keep their sinful behavior a secret. They have asserted that if you become aware of another person’s sinful behavior and tell that to anyone else, then you are automatically guilty of gossip.
As we have already established, even though it is indeed possible to gossip about what is true, we have also seen that not all discussion of true sinful behavior is automatically gossip (see examples in “Correcting Misconceptions about Gossip,” Volume 7, Number 20). Having said that, those who hold to the above premise—that in order to avoid gossip, one must essentially become a secret-keeper for the sinner— attempt to use Scripture to justify their understanding. In my experience the only two passages that are typically used to justify this position are found in the book of Proverbs:
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
Proverbs 11:13
He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
– Proverbs 20:19
By briefly examining these two passages in context, we will be able to see what they are really teaching.
In Proverbs 11:13 “talebearer” comes from the Hebrew word râkîyl, which means, “slander, slanderer, talebearer, informer” (Brown-Driver-Briggs’ – Hebrew Definitions). It is this same word that is translated “slanderer” in Proverbs 20:19. As far as I can tell, there doesn’t seem to be anything inherent in this word itself that necessarily implies that it only or always means telling something defamatory or false. Rather, as is indicated by the above definition, it could simply be used to designate someone who “informs” others, or shares information.
In fact, the context of Proverbs 11:13 (vss. 9-14) would suggest that the “talebearer” in question is not spreading lies. He is not even revealing necessarily negative or sinful secrets. Rather he simply spreading information—particularly to the enemy, either directly or indirectly—that makes his city and neighbors vulnerable to attack, capture, and destruction.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent. 13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets
But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in the abundance of counselors there is victory. –
Proverbs 11:9-14
The context of Proverbs 20:19 (vss. 18-19) suggest the same principle. This seems especially apparent when you consider that the word “gossip” in verse 19 is actually the rendering of two Hebrews words that literally mean “wide lipped”. That is, it is describing someone who just can’t keep his mouth shut about anything!
Prepare plans by consultation,
And make war by wise guidance.
He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
Proverbs 20:18-19
So, in these two proverbs, we are not talking primarily about the idea of refraining from telling others about sinful deeds of which we are aware. We are speaking more generally about the ability to keep in confidence what is told us. “Concealing a matter” does not mean we are to conceal the sins of others by keeping their sinful secrets for them. This would be contrary to the love we are to have for one another as fellow believers and brothers and sisters in Christ. “Secret-keeping” enables folks to continue in their sins! And this helps no one, least of all the one who is involved in the sin.
This kind of “secret-keeping” is not what these proverbs are advocating. This conclusion would be contrary to what we are taught elsewhere in Scripture. As those who are striving to walk as children of Light, we are to expose the deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11-13). We have seen already in our discussion that attention was drawn not only to the sinful behavior of the brother living in sexual immorality, but also the sinfulness of the Corinthian congregation’s toleration of this brother’s sin and their failure to remove him from their midst (1 Corinthians 5). We are told to “keep our eye” on those who behave in a way that is contrary to the teaching of Christ (Romans 16:17). We are to “take special note of that person” who behaves sinfully (2 Thess. 3:14). All of these passages clearly suggest that we are to draw attention to sin when we become aware of it, so that it can be avoided by others and corrected by the sinner.
Now please note well: there is a right and wrong way to go about doing this; so please don’t jump to the false conclusion that we should telegraph far and wide any and all sinful behavior of which we are aware. But understand that one is not bound to keep the sinful secrets of another by the prohibition against gossip. That is simply not what the Bible teaches. In our next article we will evaluate how we may know whether or not what we are doing is gossip. And then we will conclude this discussion in an additional article which will endeavor to apply these principles to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18:15-17. Ultimately to goal will be that we might be able to adequately deal with sin, while at the same time making sure to avoid the sin of gossip. – J.L.
This bulletin is being published for the purpose of encouraging a further study of the Word of God. Editor – Josh Liggin
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