Identifying Gossip

My friend will sometimes reference a situation that took place in the church, Sunday school or the women’s Bible study. However, in retelling the situation she doesn’t want to name-names. I’m not sure why she withholds names, but I suspect she feels if she reveals the person’s name others might consider it gossiping…a fear held by many women. Just as a point of observation, I’ve yet to hear a Christian man worry about being labeled a gossip. Proverbs helps us clarify and identify gossip, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:13 NIV). “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28 NIV). “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts” (Proverbs 18:8 NIV).