The false accusation of gossip

To talk about a sin problem in a member of the congregation is not gossip if you’re a part of the problem or a part of the solution to the problem.¹

Paul did not partake in gossip when he received and believed the report about the man who was sleeping with his father’s wife. Paul received this report from Chloe or some people in her household (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:11 and 5:1). How do we know that Chloe’s household and Paul were not guilty of gossip in this situation? Paul knew that those who wrote to him about the wicked man’s sin wanted the problem solved. They wanted that man’s sin to be rightly addressed. They didn’t want it ignored or swept under the carpet. They were, no doubt, very concerned about the way that man’s sin could leaven the whole lump — it could subtly erode and contaminate the principles and morals of the congregation.

We assume they informed Paul because their own local congregation at Corinth was not addressing the problem. The majority of Corinthian Christians were letting it slide, and possibly even boasting about how “tolerant” or “loving” they were being. Paul wasted no time in reprimanding the Corinthians; nor did he soften his words. He commanded them firmly what they ought to do:

When you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. … put away from yourselves that wicked person  (1 Corinthians 5:4–5, 13b).

The people who informed Paul were not committing the sin of gossip. They informed Paul because they knew that the man was acting wickedly while passing himself off as a Christian, and they were grieved and concerned for everyone in the congregation. They saw that most of the congregation were doing nothing about this man’s hypocrisy, and they appealed to Paul because they thought he could — and would — do something about the problem. Paul was prepared to credit their report without needing to go to Corinth to ascertain the facts for himself. Paul must have known and trusted the informants well enough to be confident that they were not malicious people so they would not make a false report.

It is not gossip to make a report of evil conduct if you have witnessed evidence of the problem — e.g., you are a direct victim of the hypocrite’s wickedness, or you can see the church being led astray by the hypocrite’s wickedness. You will not be guilty of gossip when you are reporting the sin to those who may be able to help bring a solution to the problem. By the same token, you are not partaking in gossip if you to listen to a report of evil conduct and you have the wisdom, influence and / or authority to help bring a solution to the problem.

When a victim starts disclosing what the abuser has been doing and asks for help, abusers and their allies commonly accuse the victim of gossiping. Abusers want their evil to remain in the darkness. If you expose the evil, you will be charged with gossip. The false accusation of gossip is made to support the cloak of secrecy, ‘protect the reputation of the church’, and shut victims up.

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. (Proverbs 17:15)

Exposing evil is not gossip

The Bible tells us to expose evil. Hiding evil secrets is not a righteous thing to do. The right thing is to expose evil. God will expose all evil in the end, and we are called to expose and eschew evil now.

(Ephesians 5:11-14)  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  (ESV)

(Luke 12:1-3)  “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”  (ESV)

Let’s look at a few examples of the apostle Paul exposing evil.

(2 Timothy 4:14-15)  Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.

Paul was not gossiping about Alexander. Paul was exposing Alexander’s wicked deeds.

(2 Timothy 4:10a)  For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.  (ESV)

Was Paul gossiping about Demas in mentioning this? Paul was not being malicious, he was only telling the truth. Paul was warning Timothy (and others who might read this letter to Timothy) that Demas had become lukewarm (at the very least), and that was important because believers need to know who they can rely on, who they can trust.

(1 Timothy 1:19b-20)  … some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.  (ESV)

Yes, I know that sounds harsh, but Paul did have to name Hymenaeus and Alexander. If he hadn’t named them, many other congregations would have been in the dark about their excommunication, and those two snakes may pass themselves off as Christians in good standing as they move from town to town.

Read more examples here: Blessings and Woes from the Politically and Spiritually Incorrect Lord Jesus Christ, and Naming Names

Endnotes
¹ “If you’re part of the problem or a part of the solution” is a qualification used by Dr John Street in the fifth lecture of his Marriage and Family Counseling course at The Master’s Seminary (a conservative seminary which I do NOT recommend, but on this point I agree with Dr Street). See Dr Street saying this 6 minutes into lecture five.

[September 24, 2024: Editors’ notes:

—For some comments made prior to September 24, 2024 that quoted from the post, the text in the comment that was quoted from the post might no longer be an exact match.
—For some comments made prior to September 24, 2024 that quoted from the post, the text in the comment that was quoted from the post might no longer be found in the post.
If you would like to compare the text in the comments made prior to September 24, 2024 that quoted from the post to the post as it is now (September 24, 2024), click here [Internet Archive link] for the most recent Internet Archive copy of the post.]

Post updated September, 2024.

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Further reading

Gossip — A list of all our posts that have the Gossip tag.