Proverbs 26:20 (ESV)
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarrelling ceases.

There’s no smoke without fire, they say, but some smokes are founded on a smothering ember set out of jealousy, anger, and prejudice. Gossip is backbiting, slander, rumours, hearsay, and tale-telling. At its best, gossip whispers dubious hints repeat information and turn the light on another person negatively. Although gossip is not listed as a deadly sin, I think it should because it’s a serious sin.
What is gossip then? Gossip is to prattle, to chat unconstructively, to talk too much, to run about and tattle; to tell idle tales that are usually defaming and damaging according to Proverbs 18:8.
James 3:6 calls the tongue fire, it’s often the instrument of producing the most desperate contentions and insurrections. He goes further in verse eight to say it’s a restless evil and full of deadly poison. Contention is like fire, the flame blown up by talebearers and whisperers.
Gossip is usually half-truths or outright lies to throw doubts on the character of another person. When we gossip about somebody, we steal their reputation. Words unfortunately when spoken, can’t be unsaid, or recalled. With a single sentence or phrase and sometimes even with a look, we can ruin the reputation of another person according to Proverbs 11:9.
Gossip is lucrative and legal; newspapers, magazines and news run stories that are unfounded, untruthful, sometimes downright cruel, damaging, and destructive. But according to Leviticus 19:16, gossip is specifically forbidden by God.
Gossipers are poor friends. Stay away from them.
Gossips are demolition experts, tearing others down to devalue them, they use gossip to make themselves look good whilst making someone else into who and what they want them to be.
Gossips speak of the faults and failings of others or reveal potentially embarrassing or shameful details regarding their lives without their knowledge or approval. Even if they mean no harm, it is still gossip, see Psalm 101:5.
Gossip puts us in the place of judging others by our standard but God says not to judge in Matthew 7:1. Rumours and opinions are not allowed in a court of law because they may unjustly sway the verdict of the jury but we turn our living rooms, bedrooms, offices, cars, even the church into a court when we sit in judgement over someone and allow rumours and personal opinions to colour and damage the reputation of others who may never have the chance to defend themselves.
Anyone can engage in gossip simply by repeating something heard in confidence. The book of Proverbs has a long list of verses that cover the dangers of gossip and the potential hurt it causes. Proverbs 11:12 says, a man who lacks judgment derides his neighbour, a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
Those who guard their tongues keep themselves from trouble according to Proverbs 21:23. So guard your tongue and refrain from gossip. If we surrender our natural desires to the Lord, He will help us remain righteous.
Before we open our mouths next time to say something nasty, mean, or untrue about another, pause and ask yourself if you’ll like to be in that person’s shoes.
As a believer, we are meant to be peacemakers not dividers of friends according to Proverbs 16:28, which is what happens when we gossip, please brethren, keep your mouth shut unless it is necessary and appropriate to speak.
Shalom