There’s an an epidemic of God's people participating in vicious gossip….

There seems to be an epidemic of God's people participating in vicious gossip - and this has never been more evident than in the past few months, since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, and the BLM "protests" that kicked off riots and looting and all manner of decadent behavior.

Gossip.. In Hebrew it's called "lashon hara", which means "evil tongue."

What constitutes lashon hara? Derogatory messages of any kind about another person; deliberately spreading falsehoods (or even things that may be true) in order to hurt someone's reputation without employing any attempts to correct or improve a negative situation.

Lashon hara can be spread in many ways including face-to-face conversation, letters, telephone, email and on "social media" sites such as Facebook - where it has grown to epidemic proportions, with myriads espousing their exalted opinions, and passing them off as "truth."..

What is disturbing is that so many Believers are choosing to engage in this sinful activity!

It isn't "bad" to have an opinion about the government, a particular leader; or current events. What's "bad" is when something that leader may (or may not) have done is being used against him/her and ultimately "twisted into a lie" in hopes of making others believe the lie.

We are in the world, but not "of it" and unfortunately, we must learn to deal with it - not like the heathens do, but according to YHWH's Torah. God's people are to be holy/set apart, "taking every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Deliberately spreading vicious rumors about someone (whether or not there's any truth to them is irrelevant), is NOT pleasing to YHWH...in part, because we are to be His ambassadors, constantly trying to reach others for Him. How you can reach the lost if you're out there being vicious and behaving in a carnal manner?

Matthew 12:34 "Generation of vipers! How are you able to speak good things, you who are evil? For the mouth speaks from the fullness of the heart. 35. A good man brings forth good from his good treasures, and the evil man brings evil from his evil treasure. 36. I say to you for every vain word that the sons of men speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. 37. For by your words you will be made righteous, and by your words you will be condemned." (AENT, See also Deut. 32:21)

There is no scripture commanding us to slander others with vicious gossip. We are to "rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith" (Leviticus 19:17, Titus 1:13, 1 Timothy 5:20); we are to "warn a divisive person once, then a second time, and after that, have nothing more to do with him" (Titus 3:10); we are to "beware of" and "stand distant from" those who refuse to follow YHWH's commands (Romans 16:17-18) and we are to do the following:

2 Timothy 2:15 Do all you can to present yourself to Elohim as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. 16 But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. (CJB)

We are to turn godless people over to God; not become their judge and jury. Certainly, we can approach them with HIS Truth; but if they refuse, let them go and leave them alone. HE will deal with them in HIS timing! (See Matthew 12:36, 2 Peter 3:10-13, Romans 2:16, etc.) PRAY for them in hopes they will some day see YHWH's Truth; don't malign them; that's not your job!

But, before we can lead someone to the Truth, WE must be a light, and exemplify the meaning of "holy." If we don't, then we are nothing but opinionated hypocrites, attempting to lead others to "our" own, personal ideas of "truth"...

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby. 7 Let the wicked person abandon his way and the evil person his thoughts; let him return to ADONAI, and he will have mercy on him; let him return to our God, for he will freely forgive.(CJB)

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (AENT)

Ephesians 5:4 Neither obscenities nor words of foolishness, or of division, or of falsehood, which are not useful; but instead of these, thanksgiving. (AENT)

James 1:26 And if anyone thinks that he worships Elohim and does not subdue his tongue, but his heart deceives him; his worship is desolate. (AENT)

Titus 1:16 And they profess that they know Elohim, but in their works they deny him; and they are odious and disobedient and to every good work reprobates. (AENT)