Gossip.

This is the character is bad for both the Gossip and the listener of the gossip.

Gossip is a sister to; Slander. Backbiting. Lies.

Meaning of Gossip. 👇🏻

Conversation or reports about other people's private lives that might be unkind, disapproving, or not true:

Reports that make people think different of somebody just because of what you told them about the other person...

We take it light.... that I didn't comment, but you heard, you opened your ears to listen.... you are as bad as the one who is spreading gossips, because you are entertaining it.

It's a symptom of the state of your heart. 

Romans 7:19-25

I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

What to do to avoid entertaining gossip: When someone starts, you just kindly say, can we talk about something else? Because i don't want to hear any of what you're about to say for it does not bless me, neither does it bless you.

Some scriptures:

Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

Exodus 23:1 "You shall not utter a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man, to be a malicious witness.

James 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

Gossip is not only talking bad about them, it is also judging.. as in not even understanding why a person does the things he or she does and talking about it to another person.. if you don't understand go to the person and talk it out with that person. Instead of talking about the person behind their backs.. it will not help you gain anything nor does it bless you. Let's say good things about each other and build each other up.

Matthew 12:34-36. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Gossips begin from the heart.... and receive. Have you listened to gossip? You may think you are walking in Christ, but you are not. The devil is the author of gossip as he did to Job... yet Job state of salvation defines him as Blameless... upright... steadfast.

More scriptures:👇🏻  

Psalm 101:5 Him who slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. The man of haughty looks and arrogant heart I will not endure.

When Mirriam and Aaron slander Moses the Lord himself come down and struck Mirriam with Leprosy.  

Numbers 13:26-33 Report on the Exploration They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” They spread and people began to rebels... against Moses.... and the Lord could not allow them to enter... both who bring bad report and those who listen to bad report.... only Caleb and Joshua and those who did not listen to bad report, entered the promise land.

Nehemiah 6:8-9. I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” We see Sunballat with bad report.... towards Nehemiah so that they cannot do the work of God.... How many have gossiped till they now have a different image of the person because of your gossips/ bad talking?

Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue. Gossips destroy the salvation of the carrier and receiver.

Psalms 15:1-4 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;  who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.

Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter.

Never entertain gossips.

Be blessed beloved ones, and kindly share with others. Shalom