During high school I somehow got hooked on listening to the band Fleetwood Mac. One album I enjoyed was the Rumors album. So far, listening to that album has been the one and only time I have enjoyed hearing or dealing with rumors.

Right now my family and I are going through some transitions. Most people have been very supportive and loving. Unfortunately, this can also be a time when people try to capitalize on hearsay for their own gossipy, divisive ways and selfish gain.

Rumors can start so easily. Anybody who went through 5th grade knows what I'm talking about. Sadly, the devastation that rumors often create does not go away as simply as it begins.

Rumors and gossip start when people open their mouths regarding things they don't fully know or have no business talking about. Lies and distortions then flow easily off our tongues as our own selfishness drives us to leak information or twist bits of truth for our own gain. This can happen quietly; a person may start spreading a rumor or manipulating some piece of information without even noticing it.

What I have experienced in my life is that most confusion is eliminated when people deal directly with one another. I am so grateful that the leadership of my church is strong enough to go right to the source whenever a question arises. The flip side of that kind of wise leadership and friendship is the foolish behavior of talking in triangles.

Look at the Scripture's decisive teaching on loose-tongued behavior:

Proverbs 11:13
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Proverbs 16:28
A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 20:19
A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Proverbs 26:20
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

The Bible says that people who gossip and spread rumors are to be avoided. Rumor spreaders keep the hot coals of a conflict burning (James 3:3-12). They ruin people's lives with the wake of their mouth. The Apostle's repeatedly condemn gossiping in the New Testament and feel free to list the sin of gossip right alongside evil things like wickedness, envy, quarreling, idleness, murder, strife, and greed. (see Romans 1:28-30; 2 Corinthians 12:20-21; 1 Timothy 5:13)

Speak the truth in love, take your concerns right to the source and don't distort or spread information you haven't heard first hand or that you know nothing about. I know it can be hard. Our culture loves a juicy piece of information and our evil enemy loves it when people isolate themselves and live in darkness.

However, the church of Jesus Christ (the body of people who claim to know and love Jesus - the group declared in Scripture as Jesus' magnificent bride) must rise above making herself feel good by spreading around juicy morsels of gossip. We must be committed to biting our tongues when we don't have all the facts. We must learn to suspend judgment and look with love on our brothers and sisters. We must be bold enough to have difficult conversations within the family, without discussing our opinions and feelings with an uninvolved third party.

Come on church. Rise up Bride! Live as the Beloved.

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