Gossip is something that is considered common, even among Christians. The Bible says in the book of Proverbs that gossip is so tasty and how we love to swallow it (Proverbs 18:8).
One day, I was studying the Bible, and God showed me something very profound. He said, “Leah, you don’t honor Me.”
And I said, “What do You mean, Father?”
He said, “When you practice gossip, you don’t honor Me. You dishonor Me because I hate gossip.”
And I was like, “Well, God, I don’t go around telling people other people’s business.”
He said, “But you participate in it when other people bring gossip to you. You’re just as guilty as the person bringing the gossip to you.”
Then He said something else. He said, “I know that as a human being, you’re going to miss it, and when you miss it, you repent. The issue is when you’ve made gossip a habit, when you do it frequently, and when you have relationships in your life where all you do is talk about other people’s business. You may think, ‘Oh, maybe I’m just venting,’ but what you’re actually doing is hurting the other person, and you’re hurting yourselves.”
Then He asked me, “Leah, who is the accuser of the brethren?”
And I said, “Satan.”
He said, “So every time you gossip, you’re accusing the people you’re gossiping about.”
Then He said something so profound. He said, “But not only that, as you continue to gossip, you are building a stronghold in the spiritual realm where demons have cultivated a stronghold around you. You can’t even build and sustain anything because the same seeds you’re sowing concerning other people are the same seeds that are coming back to you.”
He said, “As a business owner, you have to be very mindful because this will cost you.”
Then He said, “Look at the people in your life who are habitual gossipers. What are they building?”
And I said, “Nothing.”
He said, “Exactly, because you can’t build anything that is sustained and has a legacy when you practice tearing other people down.”
That was something I had to take seriously.
After God rebuked me about gossip, I called all my friends and told them what God had shown me. I told them, “God rebuked me and told me that gossip is wrong, so please don’t call me to gossip.”
But even after that, I sometimes find myself in situations where people ask questions, and before you know it, you’ve shared information you weren’t supposed to share.
For example, one of my friends called me and asked, “What’s going on with that person? Is that person divorced?”
And I said, “Yes, they’re divorced.”
I answered without even thinking about it.
Afterward, the Holy Spirit said, “Leah, that person didn’t want to get information. They wanted gossip because they have the phone number of the person they’re asking you about. Why didn’t they just call that person and ask?”
And that made me think.
A habitual gossiper doesn’t go directly to the person. They go around the person.
People will ask, “How is that person doing?”
Well, you have that person’s phone number. Why don’t you pick up the phone and call them?
Why are you asking someone else about their personal business when you can go directly to them?
We have to be mindful of the people we allow in our lives and the conversations we participate in.
I warn people about gossip because I know what God has shown me. And when someone continues to practice gossip, even after being warned, there comes a time when we have to release them and bless them.
Gossip is destructive. But most importantly, as a child of God, I believe gossip hurts God.
God did not create us to gossip about one another. He created us to love one another, bless our enemies, and speak life.
The Bible says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. It also tells us that whatever we sow, we will reap.
I’m not perfect. I still miss it sometimes. But I’m striving to make sure that I don’t intentionally practice gossip.
And when I do miss it, I repent.
This is part of my journey with God. Learning to be mindful not only of what I say about others but also of what I allow others to say to me.
Because gossip isn’t just about the person spreading it. It’s also about the person willing to listen and participate.
Scriptures About Gossip
Proverbs 26:20–22 — Without wood, a fire goes out, and without gossip, a quarrel dies down. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels.
Proverbs 16:28 — A dishonest person spreads strife, and a gossip separates close friends.
Proverbs 11:13 — A gossip reveals secrets, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
Proverbs 20:19 — A gossip reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with someone who talks too freely.
Leviticus 19:16 — Do not go around spreading slander among your people.
Ephesians 4:29 — Do not let corrupt or harmful communication come out of your mouth, but speak what is good for building others up.
James 4:11 — Do not speak evil against one another.
Titus 3:2 — Speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show courtesy toward everyone.
Revelation 12:10 — Satan is described as the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before God day and night.
Galatians 6:7 — A person reaps what they sow.
Luke 6:27–28 — Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
