Where In The Bible Will I Find:

The Condemnation Of Evil Speaking?

Such criticism in evil speaking or gossip is sinful, and vigorously condemned in the Scriptures. One may speak evil of another by unjustly criticizing his actions, words, life; by taking up evil reports originated by others against a brother and giving them further circulation. All such censorious activity is sinful and wrong. "Speak not evil one of another…." (James 4:11).

There being such a thing as "evil speaking," then there is also a thing of "evil hearing." Were it not for those who LISTEN to calumnies regarding others, there would be no one so speak such. It is because so many enjoy hearing bad things about others is the basic reason why slanders enjoy telling these things. To "run another down" was a common sin in the ancient world, and is not less practiced today.

Those who indulge in such conversation greatly displease the Father, and effectively close the door of grace against them. King David inquired: "Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" Then the psalmist answered his own questions in these words: "He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart; he that slandereth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his friend, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor..." (Psm. 15:1‑3). It is, of course, the want of love for each other that prompts us to express adverse judgments regarding others.

The writer James has a lot to say about the evils of the tongue, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things…the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body..." (James 3:5, 6). It is impossible to be in the right relationship with God, without sustaining the proper relation with our brethren. "Love for God and our neighbor" is commanded by Jesus (Luke 10:27). "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen? He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes" (I John 4:20; 2:10, 11). As Jesus hated the "sin" but not the sinner, we too, are commanded to expose and hate the "sin" but to love the sinner for his soul is precious in the sight of God. Let us all speak of our brethren.