The Battle

 “When God’s Warriors go down on their knees, the battle is not over. It has just begun.” (QuotesGram)

 Gossip seems to be a challenge that many Christians struggle with. It is someone’s private information shared in conversation or print. We know it's wrong. The Apostle Paul talks about ‘harmful things’ not coming out of your mouth. (Ephesians 4:29, ICB) James warns that the tongue is ‘a blazing hell.' (James 3:6, PHILLIPS) Jesus himself says that ‘what comes out of your mouth that can make you unclean' (Matthew 15:11, VOICE) Gossip is damaging, ugly, and the mark of immature character.

Gossip can happen unintentionally as a positive or neutral conversation moves unexpectedly into controversial terrain. Sometimes it happens due to anger with someone. Regretfully, gossip can happen between two Christians under the guise of a well-intentioned prayer to God. If you're honest, these prayer conversations are enjoyable and exciting (just like sin is). Who doesn't enjoy hearing the secret details of other people's lives?

You need to decide to fight the temptation to ignore gossip. Transgressing the gossip boundary is effortless, and often without any obvious consequence. It's an easy trap to fall into. Are you a Prayer Warrior, or have you changed into a gossip? There needs to be a way of measuring whether a conversation has moved from helpful discussion to gossip. Below are nine guidelines to prevent you from mentally crossing that:

·  Others trust Prayer Warriors. Few people trust a gossip. The only people who trust gossips are those who haven’t yet learned their reputation, or those who are themselves gossips. Gossips deceive themselves into thinking no one else knows what they are.

 ·   Prayer Warriors actually pray over the concerns. Gossips only say they do. Just because a gossip shares a “prayer concern” is no reason to believe that he or she spends time talking to God. It’s hard to find time to talk to God when you’re talking to everybody else.

·   Prayer Warriors are humbled by their own sin. Gossips delight in somebody else’s sin. Gossips refuse to see that their own busybody actions are nothing less than sin.

 · Prayer Warriors don’t need every detail; gossips do. Prayer Warriors pray with whatever information they’re given, know God has the full story. Gossips want every morsel of information. They want to know everything.

  ·   Prayer Warriors grieve over prayer concerns and tough situations. Gossips pretend grief and internally rejoice because they have the information few other people know.

 ·   Prayer Warriors live in the present and future. Gossips hold on to the past. Prayer Warriors believe God is going to do something mighty soon. Gossips stay in everybody else’s past because they lose their power if yesterday’s story ever dies.

 ·   Prayer Warriors pray immediately. Gossips immediately begin thinking about others to tell. Prayer Warriors go to their knees in prayer when they hear a concern. Gossips go to their phone, social media, text, or e-mail to communicate their enticing information.

 ·   Prayer Warriors rejoice when God answers their prayers. Gossips listen for the next story. While one group celebrates God’s guidance, the other listens for the devil’s victories.

 ·   Prayer warriors long for healing, reconciliation, and recommitment. Gossips long to hear more. The first group pleads with God to work miracles in the lives of others. The second group just wants to know more about the lives of others.

“Listening to gossip is like accepting stolen property, and it makes you just as guilty of the crime.” (Rick Warren)[i]

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[i] Adapted from:

·        “9 WAYS TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRAYER WARRIOR AND A GOSSIP” BY CHUCK LAWLESS

·        “Finding the line: When does a prayer request become gossip?” by Martin Saunders 

·        “Gossip meaning’ by Your Dictionary