Copyright 2019 Theresa Harvard Johnson Image: Deposit Photos
(This article is a part of an ongoing series entitled, “Denounce the Circus,” based on identifying idolatry in the church.)
Signs of a “Closet” Gossiper:
- Celebrity junkie. Can tell you everything about celebrities and confuse it with “God showing me.”
- Excessive commentator. Weighs in on topics that are COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to the congregation. Has nothing to do with the Lord’s intention.
- Extremely concerned with what “they believe” the Lord shows them about “others” …and shape that gossip into a “false ministry.” Never in the history of the scriptures has a ministry been built on something like this.
- Enjoy instigating division and unrest concerning the “sins and short comings” of others – to the point of mobilizing discussions, round tables and meetups focused on the “demise and shame” of others. (This isn’t news reporting. This isn’t about awareness.)
- Cares nothing for facts or truth. Simply repeats “he said/she said.” Literally, that is all they do.
- Claim what they do is the work of God. It is not. This pattern is not found in the life of God, in the life of Christ or in the ministry of Holy Spirit. Period.
- Has absolutely no compassion, conviction or Godly sorrow for the condition of the soul of others. None.
- Their Bible and scriptures are gossip sites, reality TV shows, YouTube… and they are drenched in justification for their behavior and actions.
- Despise wisdom, counsel or truth concerning “THE CIRCUS” their souls are entrenched in and separated with. Some may have exchanged their God for a system.
The scriptures say…
- Gossipers are types of murderers.
- Gossipers operate in deceit.
- Gossipers nurture unwholesome words.
- Gossipers malign, carry false reports, and serve as malicious witnesses.
- Gossipers are liars who operate on assumptions.
- Gossipers specialize in whispering into contention.
And more. Bible studies on gossip will confirm what is shared. In THIS AGE…gossip is so extremely prevalent through media and social media that it is barely noticed or recognized as such. People among the Body are drowning in it and unable to function without it.
Denounce it.
Give Holy Spirit permission cleanup the heart. Be free OF THE CIRCUS! Again, there is absolutely no biblical basis for this type of behavior anywhere in the life of Christ. We are Sons of God… not sons of darkness.
