The Evil Tongue of Gossip, Slander & Criticism October 14 th, 2012

The Command: Christians, do not speak evil against one another!

Ways We ‘Speak Evil’ Against One Another 1)Slander - the intentional use of our words to discredit, defame or disparage someone. 2)Gossip - ‘idle talk’ – speaking words of defamation about someone to someone else – whether intentionally or unintentionally. 3)Criticism - a critical spirit – criticism using negative, fault finding words to condemn people and things.

Chain Reaction Effects of Evil Speech 1 st Effect: In speaking evil against one another we actually speak evil against God’s law.

Chain Reaction Effects of Evil Speech 2 nd Effect: In speaking evil against one another and therefore speaking evil against God’s law, we violate his law while presuming ourselves to be above God’s law.

Chain Reaction Effects of Evil Speech 3 rd Effect: In speaking evil against one another, and therefore speaking evil against God’s law, we violate his law while presuming to be above God’s law and in effect – assume ourselves to be God Himself.

Reasons We Speak Evil Against One Another 1)We are spiritually lazy allowing our tongues to become an evil tool of Satan. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list…for they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy [Satan] no opportunity for slander. (1 Timothy 5: 11-15)

Reasons We Speak Evil Against One Another 2) We have an insatiable desire to elevate ourselves above others. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10

Reasons We Speak Evil Against One Another 3) We hold bitterness, anger and malice in our hearts towards others and that heart is manifested through our tongue. “…the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.20 These are what make a man ‘unclean’…. (Matthew 15:18-20)

Commitments For Removing Gossip, Slander & Criticism 1)Commit before God to be relentless with your own sin before using your tongue to point out sin in others. Don’t condemn others, and God won’t condemn you. 2 God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them. 3 You can see the speck in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the log in your own eye. 4 How can you say, “My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you don’t see the log in your own eye? 5 You’re nothing but show-offs! First, take the log out of your own eye. Then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5 – CEV)

Commitments For Removing Gossip, Slander & Criticism 2)Commit before God Not to discredit others with your tongue. Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind. (1 Peter 2:1)

Commitments For Removing Gossip, Slander & Criticism 3) Commit before God to no longer be an enabler of slander, gossip and criticism. Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. (Proverbs 26:20)

Steps to Healing from the Damage of Evil Speech Step 1: Admit that you yourself have damaged others with this sin of evil speech. Step 2: Forgive those who have spoken evil against you as Christ also forgave you. Step 3: Trust God to be your Defender & your Justice.

The Evil Tongue of Gossip, Slander & Criticism October 14 th, 2012