For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them...so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind...Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:18-21, 28-32.

We need to understand one thing right here: this passage of scripture was not talking about the "ignorant and unlearned"! What did it say? We are WITHOUT excuse; knowing the judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death, NOT ONLY DO THE SAME, but HAVE PLEASURE in them that do them. "Have pleasure in them that do them": we insist on keeping company with those who do such things--we take great pleasure in the perversity of such actions! It's not true? You don't enjoy gossiping and being around other gossipers?

I can guarantee you one thing, my friends: if we entertain such ungodliness, if we allow such sin in our lives, it won't take long for our conscience to be seared. It will no longer bother us to partake in such sinful behaviors, so despicable in the eyes of God. Gossip: equated with murder, haters of God, inventors of evil things! And we can't understand why we don't have victory in our lives? We can't understand why we are so easily defeated at every little turn in the road? We can't understand why we are not more than conquerors through Jesus Christ? Because we are not operating under His authority, we are full of unrighteousness.


Look what was writtten to the Corinthians: For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults. And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. II Corinthians 12:20,21.

This passage of scripture was NOT talking about those of a reprobate mind. It was addressed to church-goers--those who professed to be "Christians". What we "profess" and what we actually do are sometimes poles apart (as in North and South)! We need to realize that as Christians (and I'm talking about followers of CHRIST, not any old wind of doctrine), our lives MUST BE examples of a CHRIST-like spirit. And a CHRIST-like spirit is one of love and compassion, not envyings and strife and dissension and stirring up one turmoil after another. It is a life that OPENLY deals with and projects TRUTH.


We used to hear, "If you won't write it and sign it, don't say it." But we too easily forget all that, don't we? Why we're in the spotlight at the moment! We've got ears bent as we relay the latest juicy little tid-bit about "so and so".

Instead of us going to that person and praying with them, we gossip. Why we wouldn't DARE go to them! It's none of our business! But is it our business to spread rumor and ineuendos?? "Well, I didn't SAY such and such." A lot can be said by merely IMPLYING it. Think about it!

My friends, if we spent the time in fervent prayer that we do in gossiping (whispering behind our church programs), there would be a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We would reconnect to The Power Source--we would have the power and authority to overcome that which comes against us!

Of course, refusing to indulge in backbiting, gossiping and whispering will exclude you from the inner circles of most groups--you won't be as popular as you could be. Yet, that kind of popularity is dubious at best--not a one of those in the inner circle have any confidence in the others. Still, they cling to one another in their shallowness of backbiting and gossip. We'd better make up our minds what we want: popularity or the righteousness of God! Which will it be, my friends?


We have gone after our own lusts, we don't want sound doctrine (the TRUTH): we have itching ears just as they were described in II Timothy 4:1-4. Verse 4 says, And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. When we gossip, we are NOT doing so with thoughts of their well-being in our minds. We are NOT doing so with their best interests in our hearts. We are NOT doing so with the intent of requesting prayer for them! It is to perk up the ears of those who are listening!

Are there any who still think whispering (gossiping) is just a "little" thing? Then square it up with this: He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:34-37.

E-V-E-R-Y idle word. Every. The Song of Solomon 2:15 tells us it is the LITTLE foxes that spoil the vine.


And just as guilty as those who do the whispering (gossiping), are those who listen to it! That's right! When you provide an outlet for the gossipers, you are partaking in it right along with them! You cannot use the defense of, "But I didn't do any gossiping. I wasn't the one saying it." What about those "sound effects" you were making to encourage it?

• "Well, of all things..."
• "You don't say!"
• "Have you ever heard of such a thing?!"

That's right--whether I am doing the whispering or encouraging the whisperer, I am partaking in the same unrighteousness! Why would I want to know something malicious about someone? If it cannot be said openly before a group, it is mean-spirited and malicious. Oh yes it is! If it's of a personal nature that cannot be revealed, then keep your mouth shut! If it's not something you would want said about you, yourself, keep your mouth shut! There is a way to convey that which needs to be known without resorting to malicious whisperings behind our hands! Oh, it won't gain us the same grandstand effect, it won't satiate the morbid curiosity of those who want to know the details. But we need to ask ourselves, why do people want to know the details?

Ever had someone ask prayer for an "unspoken request"? Think back now. Did you think, "Wonder why they won't tell what it is!" Why do we need to know the details? Did we pray just as fervently for that person and their request, or summarily dismiss it because they wouldn't fill us in on the details? God already knows the specifics--why do we need to? Let us truthfully examine our hearts, here, my friends. If I need to know the intimate details of a person's life before I am willing to pray for them, I must question my motives for praying--the conditions I attach to being willing to pray for someone! It means I am making a judgment call on whether they deserve prayer or not!! May God forgive us! We need to get RIGHT with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ!

There are many ways to deal with whisperers, but FIRST, we've got to stop participating ourselves! When we willingly receive gossip, we are actively contributing to the process by providing an outlet for the whisperer. If we refuse to receive gossip, it won't take long for the news to get around. Oh, it may mean the "loss" of a friend or two, but if their friendship was based only on their whisperings, it makes one wonder about the true value of that friendship.


The first step to stopping gossip and whisperings in your life is to not do it yourself. And the next step is to not participate in it by receiving it. One of the best ways of doing that is to stop the person doing the whispering, even if you have to interrupt them, and say, "I just love that person. We need to fervently pray for him (or her)." It never fails--it WILL stop a gossiper in their tracks. A gossip will not divulge things to someone who doesn't play their game! It is a fact. Plain and simple.

Don't let them continue until you have all the "juicy tidbits", either. Don't add any buts or ifs to it--interrupt the gossiper and simply state that you wish them to join you in prayer about their target, right then. Watch and see how quickly they excuse themselves or get off the phone. They will move on in search of those who are more receptive. The moment you recognize what they are doing, and none of us can say we don't recognize gossip, STOP and pray for those they are gossiping about. The Love of Christ will strangle to death the evil of gossip.

Should that person return to you and attempt to gossip again, you are aware of the spirit operating in them, and you have a personal decision to make. Otherwise, you will continue to contribute to the whisperings and be a part of the problem, not the solution. Numerous times we've received phone calls of "Well, did you hear the latest about Sister (or Brother) So and So?" We simply say, right then, "We need to go to prayer right now, don't we?" We don't wait to hear the details--we don't need to hear the details. God already knows them--we need to agree together in prayer for that need or that person. It has never failed to STOP the gossip, RIGHT THEN. We never got the "juicy tidbits": we didn't want them! We love to be in close Christian fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we will not surrender to the hurt and harm that gossip will do.

My friends, we've not been talking about what "sinners" do or how they act. We've been describing the thoughts and actions of those who profess to be CHRISTians! Those who won't give the preacher an "Amen" but will whisper about their brother or sister behind their hands or over the phone. Those who won't spend fifteen minutes in prayer or Bible study each day, but manage several hours of gossip and backbiting. We think because we are "talking into someone's ear" that nobody else hears us. W-R-O-N-G! Of course, the deal is, we want God to hear us when we whisper a prayer to Him, but we don't want Him to hear all our other whispers, eh? Sorry. The recordkeeper is keeping a record. Not only does He know the very intent of our heart, He also knows our innermost thoughts and He hears ALL our whispers. Like the fallacy of "hidden sins", that which we whisper is NOT hidden from He Who is our final Judge.


And then my friends, I want to leave with you this time with these final thoughts: if nothing else stops us from being whisperers, this should: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16. If we profess to have Christ IN us, then that which we project by word or deed needs to be CHRIST-like. Know this: those who engage in gossip are soon known to be gossips--it won't take long for sinner and saved to find it out. Those who gossip are not lifting up their brothers and sisters in Christ, nor are they doing the work of the Lord by such meanness.

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luke 6:31. If you've ever been the "target" or "victim" of gossipers, you know very well how mean-spirited and malicious it is. It can do great harm with far-reaching effect. If you wouldn't want it done to you, don't do it to others, and don't allow others to use you as a sounding board for their unholy works. When you start to converse with someone about a third party, examine your own heart and your purpose for saying what you are about to tell. If what you say about someone is not with all love and meekness of spirit, don't say it. If it would hurt or damage you in any manner for it to be said about you, don't say it about someone else. We cannot sow corn and expect to reap apples, my friends. Job 4:8 tells us Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:7,8.