The Wicked Fruits of Gossip & Deceit

By Richard L. Dixon

Blessed praises to the God of most high whose ever presence is revealed through us in the light
and love of his son Jesus Christ who bore the ultimate sacrifice so that we can have everlasting
life. Today I speak of a topic which has caused more damage to empires, careers, governments,
marriages, friendships, and finances: the wicked deceit of gossip. It is like a disease more
cunning and destructive to anything known to mankind. It afflicts everyone regardless of race,
creed, religion, sex, disability, or ethnic background. Anyone and everyone since the fall of man
has fallen victim to this terrible syndrome at one time or another. No one can be successfully
inoculated from its ravaging consequences. Unless recognized and treated, it sets forth an
artificial barrier in our walk and relationship with God Almighty.

In the book of James we lay witness to the devastating effects that gossip can wreck on an
individual or community. If gossip is the disease, then the tongue serves as the host that
incubates it. “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church,
for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we
could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other
way.

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a
small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are
strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole
world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set
on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It
is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and
sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and
cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree
produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty
spring.” (James 3: 1-12).

We can surmise from this passage that James was accurate in his description of deceitful gossip
and the tongue which serves as a catalyst for it to spread like a forest fire. There is no doubt my
fellow brothers and sisters that gossip is an evil and wicked practice that has no place in our
homes, work, or even the church. Yet it is so ever prevalent that we engage in its deadly practice
without knowing that we ourselves have become a party to deceit. Is it any wonder than Adam
succumbed to temptation by biting into the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.? “And when
the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to
be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her
husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6).

My friends, participation in destructive gossip is like sin because it is so easy to succumb to its
deadly seductive influences which in the end wrecks disastrous consequences on our lives and
those who are close to us. In the book of proverbs, Solomon describes succumbing to the
temptation of sin is like a Harlot who seduces us in the night with her fragrance and natural
beauty that in reality hides an wicked beast called Satan who is ready to consume the
unsuspecting soul.

“ 10 The woman approached him,

      seductively dressed and sly of heart.
   11 She was the brash, rebellious type,
      never content to stay at home.
   12 She is often in the streets and markets,
      soliciting at every corner.
   13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
      and with a brazen look she said,
   14 “I’ve just made my peace offerings
      and fulfilled my vows.
   15 You’re the one I was looking for!
      I came out to find you, and here you are!
   16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
      with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
   17 I’ve perfumed my bed
      with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
   18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
      Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,
   19 for my husband is not home.
      He’s away on a long trip.
   20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him
      and won’t return until later this month.

   21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech

      and enticed him with her flattery.
   22 He followed her at once,
      like an ox going to the slaughter.
   He was like a stag caught in a trap,
      23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
   He was like a bird flying into a snare,
      little knowing it would cost him his life.

   24 So listen to me, my sons,

      and pay attention to my words.
   25 Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her.
      Don’t wander down her wayward path.
   26 For she has been the ruin of many;
      many men have been her victims.
   27 Her house is the road to the grave.
      Her bedroom is the den of death.” (Proverbs 7:10-27).

My brothers and sisters in Christ, far too long have we allowed ourselves to be tricked by the
enemy to say the most damnable things against our neighbor, friend, close family member, or
even our enemy. We have allowed wickedness in high places to permeate our natural and spirit
man. We have become the very people that we seem to be so critical of. The words that flow
from our mouth is spoken with impunity with no care of how its forces can literally tear apart
friendships, families, and lead a path of mayhem, death, and chaos in its rampage. If heaven was
in session right now in a court of law, we all would be deemed guilty without a reasonable doubt
based on the preponderance of evidence

As children of the Most High God, we have allowed gossip to take root in the church both
naturally and spiritually. We have combined with the deadly fruits of jealousy, hate, pride, and
arrogance. This combination has become a lethal drug cocktail which kills at random and with
deadly pleasure. Lives have been destroyed, confidential information between parishioner and
pastor has been compromised and innocent brothers and sisters have been driven away from the
sanctuary of the church never to come again because they have been hurt in more ways than we
can ever imagine. In essence, we have become backslidden Christians and willing agents to do
the work of Satan himself. “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall
reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the
LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, smith the Lord GOD of hosts.” (Jeremiah 2:19).

God commands us to flee from sin whenever and however it crosses our path. “So humble
yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God
will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is
divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be
sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” (James 4:7-9). Yet more
often than not, we do the exact opposite of what God commands us to do. It is as if we are on an
auto-pilot sequence to the path of self-destruction. We seem to revel in our wicked sin of
backbiting, gossiping, and the fabrication of lies. Don’t believe me, then check out the aisles of
the checkout counters of your grocery store, we have racks full of gossip rags such as the
National Enquirer, US, and people magazines. Cable television is full of shows that exposes and
gets the dirt on any Hollywood celebrity or public figure. Even Tiger Woods who tried to hide
his public life of womanizing could not escape the rumor mills. My friends, gossip sells and we
who are John Q Public have become like ravaging wolfs out for blood because we can’t seem to
get enough of it. Even in the electronic age, such social forums as Facebook, Twitter, and My
Space have served as conduits and avenues for the proliferation of gossip.

As Christians, we have the moral responsibility to remove ourselves from the affliction of the
world and provide an oasis and haven for those who have been spiritually wounded. People are
hurting in all kinds and sorts of ways. They seek out healing and relief from their spiritual
torment. Christ came not for those already saved, but the lost sheep that had strayed from the
fold. “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
(Matthews 15:24). In these last days, the Body of Christ should serve as a refuge for the lost and
forgotten and not as a den of thieves and backstabbers as has been happening in the majority of
our houses of worship. The love of Christ knows no distinction of color, sex, race, or nationality.
All have fallen short of the Glory of God because of our sinful ways. “There is no longer Jew or
Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you
belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to
Abraham belongs to you.” (Galatians 3:28-29). If the love of Christ knows no distinction
between our fellow man, then he expects us to do the same as well. How can we say that we love
him but despise and character assassinate those who may disagree with us. It is hypocrisy at the
highest level and separates us from the blessings of God. God did not put conditions on his love
for us and we shouldn’t do it towards our friends, neighbors, acquaintances, or even family
members. In our zeal to hurt those intentionally or unintentionally, we have become control
Zombies manipulators of manufactured rumors and radioactive lives while at the same time
smiling in the unsuspecting victims face with a false godly love.

My friends the Day of Judgment and atonement is also upon us and there are those of us who
have not humbled ourselves and asked God forgiveness for our inexcusable deeds against our
fellow brothers and sisters. We have not sought his glory and righteousness and have failed to
live by his example. How do we expect to receive the keys of the kingdom when we deliberately
jam the door tight? If you are one of those who have wronged your brother or sister now is the
time not only to make amends with them, but also to throw yourself at the altar at the footstool of
heaven and beg for God’s loving mercy. God has seen fit to cleanse our filthy wretched souls of
sin if only we totally surrender to his will and do things his way. It is not enough just to
apologize for the past transgressions against our fellow man; we must open our hearts to them
that we have wronged with genuine love and compassion. That love must be unconditional just
as God’s love for us is unconditional as well. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying,
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn
thee. (Jeremiah 31:3).

The path to redemption and forgiveness starts with each one of us and there is no other substitute
or way to God. If we acknowledge him and follow his lead, there is nothing that he will not do
for us. In conclusion, if we turn from our wicked ways, then the Church will once again become
the haven for the Lost and tormented souls where the love of God reign both naturally and
spiritually.