As Christian, we are told in no uncertain terms that we are to be very careful in what we speak. James 1:26 speaks to that saying:

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”

For our tongue, though small, is very hard to control. How hard? James continues in v3:8 “… no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison!”

The Apostle Peter had much to say in the same vein, warning us in First Peter 3:10-12 saying:

“For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.'”

When we speak, we can either build up or pull down. The Bible speaks to this saying in Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” but a word spoken at the wrong time or with the wrong intent is, as Proverbs 12:18 says “… like the thrusts of a sword… “

But you say, “But I have not spoken with wrong intent!” Then consider this:

Suppose you hear something bad about someone. It may come from a friend or from a source of yours which you trust, or it could come from an established Prophet as a word from God, or it could come directly from the Holy Spirit as a word of knowledge or revelation.

The question is, what do you do about this bad news?

If you tell others the bad news and it turns out to be true, then you guilty of the sin of Gossip!

If you tell others the bad news and it turns out not to be true, then you are guilty of the sin of Slander!

Amen.