Gossip or Lashon Hara (Hebrew for the Evil Tongue), it is one of the all time ongoing spiritual & social epidemic catastrophes of mankind, it is impossible to read most newspapers, magazines or watch a TV program without hearing horrific gossip.  There are full time "gossip ministries" working at most local Churches, Synagogues, Social Clubs and wherever and whenever people communicate.  Sometimes the gossip comes right from the top Rabbi or Pastor, or their partners, or from prominent individuals who are unwilling to respond to the needs in the group, so they gossip and speak evil instead of trying to resolve the matter.

     At times gossip is based on severe infractions like adultery, fornication, stealing, lying or other high handed rebellion that is never formally addressed or restored within the community.  On most occasions those who have the authority to address and eradicate the problem refuse to, because they don't want "division" or don't know how to confront the matter, so nothing gets done and the problem goes underground. People talk, gossip flies, the damage is disseminated like the flesh of a suicide bomber that gets blown all over town and sometimes the world.  Over time every individual on the planet will either expend considerable personal resources to either extinguish gossip or promote it.  I recall some years ago when a Christian fellow was attending a Messianic congregation in Vancouver and having regular sex with one of the girls in the congregation.  When the gossip finally reached the girls parents they were devastated, the father came to me inquiring what he should do.  Neither the boy or girl cared to be corrected because they didn't feel it was wrong.  The leader was approached to respond to the matter but he did nothing, albeit the leader was a spineless individual, but also very unable and incapable to provide ministry or counsel to help correct the problem.  A full time talebearer (gossiper) in the same congregation was on a mission to further Hellenize the congregation and gossiped against anyone whose "theology" wasn't satisfactory to her, again the leader was approached who said, "we're aware of what is going on", "we're taking care of it", but he did nothing, and in so doing promoted it.  After a Shabbat service the leader was found gossiping with another individual, after an objection was made the other individual replied, "I'm just reporting it all to "     " (the leader).  She was one of the leaders "mules", the leadership was running a full time gossip ministry.  It is very shocking to realize this was how some leaders choose to "minister" to their congregation, which is why so many congregations are so lukewarm and indifferent to the Ruach HaKodesh.  There was little or no ministry in the congregation or "Presence" of the Ruach HaKodesh, instead of Chaverim living victorious lives in Mashiyach, indifferent social club attitudes about the Kingdom of Elohim were more prevalent.

     Those who imbibe themselves in gossip take their lead from Ahab and Jezebel.  Some of the most accomplished gossips are highly prized theologians and public orators, the private lives of these "ministers" is hellish, they feel that their gossip against "the dissidents" is necessary to function.  Theological models will never provide all the answers to life's challenges, when the gossip flows people get trodden asunder, souls are brought down to hell instead of being restored and brought into the Kingdom.  Gossip is dead religion's finest hour, it is the ministry and pulpit of hasatan who brings accusation against those who need refreshing in the Truth, rather than targets of gossip because they are "different".

     Being originally from Vernon BC Canada and growing up in a small logging town of about 30,000 souls there is a very small community of those who are interested in the Ancient Paths.  My family moved to the area in the late 50's and holds many values that are strange to mainstream religions.  In the late 1940's my Saba Lazarus Gorovenko began studying Netzarim Judaism.  In 1962 he moved to Israel to pursue studies in Hebrew and Aramaic to learn the teachings of Yeshua Mashiyach.  Our family has always celebrated Shabbat and the Moedim of the last 30 years.  My Saba Lazarus was a Zionist, a lover of Jews and non-Jews alike and held that Torah is for all souls, Jews and non-Jewish souls alike.  He was an avid Torah Talmid who published various Torah studies and taught that Yeshua and the Ruach HaKodesh came to write Torah upon our hearts.  Our beliefs have made our family a minority many times over, as a result we have also been the target gossip by other religions.  Some folks hold us out to be a dangerous group of "legalists", one slanderer from nearby Kelowna BC attended various meetings our family coordinated and publicly chastised us for teaching the observance of the Commandments of YHWH. Ironically she and her husband became "Messyantic" so now the gossip has turned into telling others we are "anti-Semitic".  Over the years various people have confided that they were told I am a "womanizer", a "fornicator", a "druggie" that my teaching is "dangerous", the list goes on.  Messianics, ex-Christians, or "Believers" in the region have brought much gossip, slander and accusation that I shudder to enter into a congregation in the Province of BC.  After requesting certain individuals levy charges so transgression could be a reconciled, they chose not and simply walked away from a relationship with me.  The reason is they prefer to vilify the person who holds ideas they disagree with. Maybe you've experienced the strange looks and bizarre questions from people who've heard gossip about you as well?

     Certainly there are times when "gossip" serves a purpose, there are those who do not know how to deal with a grievous situation and are essentially pleading for help, in a round about way, the only way they know how.  There are many situations where individuals attempt to cover up egregious transgression they would otherwise never be accountable for, except that someone let the cat out of the bag.  The problem is that their are so many cowards, and evil minded people in leadership that instead of ministering to the needs, they join the choir.

  Certainly if there is no accountability for transgression and the Pastors feel "privileged" to run roughshod over others there will never be reconciliation.  When issues are being addressed and attempts are being made to correct a problem this communication is certainly not intended to hurt someone, or to be cruel, but to restore, therefore this not gossip but this communication must be made in Mashiyach, not in the flesh.  All communication must serve the purpose of restoration and be within the body of Mashiyach, and among those equipped and able to restore, rather than propagate slander as a "ministry".  The gossiper is the most needy and pathetic of souls because they prove they do not have the spiritual resources to even go to someone, to love another person or to minister to the needs of someone else.  The are selfishly ministering their own needs, regardless of the level of gossip and the reason it was being levied.  Nevertheless, those who hear the gossip must realize the greater underlying needs of the person who is slandering and gossiping and provide righteous counsel for both plaintiff and defendant.

     I don't suppose there is another soul on the planet who would read this website and agree with everything I'm saying, or even how I'm phrasing these words.  Neither do I imagine any reasonable soul would expect me to agree with everything they think and teach, the point is, just because a person disagrees, doesn't give them license to go about as a talebearer.  YHWH remembers none of the sin which He has forgiven, I've made long and thorough confession of my failings and have shared shortcomings with others and made restitution when necessary for my wrongdoings.  However, those who are interested in gossiping down others have an agenda, some are threatened by religious systems, some are threatened by having their own secret sins "found out" sometimes the gossip about others is only a decoy to deflect attention off themselves, other times the gossip is a desperate act to get a bit of recognition to their peer group of gossipers.

     One of my own "shortcomings" is that this nice Jewish boy isn't married with children, this has been a target for gossip as well.  I was slandered by some as being a homosexual, I first heard it told me by someone after a Shabbat service, I went home and wept, I never imagined "Believers" could be so low, cruel and shameful as to put out such evil gossip.  I was one time courting a sister for marriage in the late 90's, I had met her around the same time I was being gossiped out of the Kehillath Tsion fellowship in Vancouver BC, (by the leadership clique).  Our relationship got very stressed and couldn't progress for a variety reasons, one being that a certain "Jezebel witch" was doing everything in her power to gossip my soul into the dirt and her slander became the topic of conversation.  I had to prove myself, which wasn't so difficult to do but when I noticed that certain others were legitimizing gossip and slander and listening to it, I realized that being single maybe wasn't such a bad thing after all, and that I better get used to it.   The fact of the matter is that I've let YHWH direct that area of my life, I would dearly love to be married to Daughter of Zion who loves Torah and Yeshua, but this is YHWH's choosing, not mine.

     Anyone involved in leadership soon learns to handle the conflicts, but it is especially brutal as a single person.  It is easy to become a target for gossip because one is a bit different and  maybe also speaks against things that are dearly held by the majority.  Not too long ago a movie called the Passion, was popular and hitting all the theaters, in my opinion it's a Hollywood orgy of idolatry and paganism, a cheap pathetic flick.  I highly doubt the integrity and sincerity of anyone who sees it as "teaching tool" or "witness" of the truth.  It seems to me that the Mother Harlot was using it to entice people back into hell for the price of a movie admission.  Maybe your impression of my perspective has just taken a turn for the worst?  I don't mean to make people feel uncomfortable, but the fact of the matter is I myself feel rather uncomfortable when I have to disagree with the crowd. However, just because I may make a person uncomfortable, doesn't give them the right to gossip about the source of their discomfort.  I feel very uncomfortable around those who promote the pagan lawless Jesus god and entice souls into Hellenism. 

     Imagine riding merrily along on a train and getting a call from a reliable friend that terrorists have blown up the train bridge over Dry Gulch Canyon.  You run to the conductor to stop the train, he laughs and says no, it's not true and that his train is bound for glory...  So how can you be so comfortable when your friends really need to jump the train?  If someone thinks I've misstated something, I await to be corrected, relativism is a clear and present evil and it has massive paid readership.

     Rigorous disputation is essential, but gossip and stubbornness is a form of idolatry.  When someone vilifies their opponent instead of addressing the issues at hand, it indicates they have no interest in Truth.  Ad Hominem arguments attack the person, or their character they are a distraction against finding out the truth of the matter.

"You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people:"

Leviticus 19:16

"If any one among you seem to be religious,

and controls not his tongue, but deceives his own heart,

this man's religion is vain." 

James 1:26

     It seems as gossip is well tolerated among the ranks when it supports a religious agenda, or when it comes from its leaders.  Gossip is evidence of hasatan having a place in the soul, it only brings about contempt, condemnation and torment, it cannot bring good fruits.  In the religious worlds it is common for Jews, Christians and Moslems to gossip about each other, each one thinks they are justified because the other is wrong, it's carnal religion.  Imagine what the world would be like if Jews, Christians and Moslems expended that time and energy to seek the Truth in Love for the Common Good?  It would be an incredible world!

The Origin of Speech

 

YHWH Elohim then formed the man [from] the dust of the ground,

and He blew into his nostrils the breath of life.

And so man became nefesh chayah.

Genesis 2:7

The Righteous Way to Resolve Gossip

The FIRST STEP

"Go to the one who trespassed against you" -don't send an email, letter or a fax, go to the person, unless this is how you always communicate with them.  Show respect to your soul and theirs and base your reconciliation on the Unity of the Body of Mashiyach, not on your PERSONAL needs regardless of how much you were offended.  Hope for the best and trust that the other soul will respond to you in Love.

"Tell him his fault between you and him"  -don't water it down, be honest and clear, someone who offends you and is also violating Torah is also an offence to YHWH and His Mashiyach.  It might well be that YHWH is raising you up to minister to this person who desperately needs some help.  Hopefully at this point you and the other person are able to reconcile, if so forgive each other and pray for each other and see that your relationship is strengthened.  Take the time to expose and crush the enemies plans, pray for each other, claim the promises of Scripture for each other, tell each other about the good things your relationship has brought into each others lives.  Seal the reconciliation in the Name of YHWH and His Mashiyach Y'shua and take back the ground that might have have otherwise been lost.  Agree to strengthen those who might have also been hurt by the gossip.  Make an opportunity to share the blessings of being reconciled together, but after this is done NEVER repeat the details of the gossip, it's not necessary to go back.

     If you have done your very best, ONE on ONE and the problem continues to escalate, i.e. the person accuses you or attempts to defend their flesh...

THEN take the SECOND STEP

"Take with you one or two more" -this is a powerful and effective Torah principle which MUST NOT be skipped.  At this point YOU will be judged along with the offender to determine whether your motive is Kadosh (set apart to YHWH).  Two or three witnesses will hold both of you accountable to the Word of YHWH, it is best to find mature brothers/sisters who are "Mighty in the Scriptures" and who have Spiritual Discernment, Wisdom and the Gifts of the Ruach HaKodesh.  You will not be chairperson for this meeting, you will be a witness to the offence and supply testimony to those in attendance while the one who trespassed against you also listens and provides evidence.

     Hopefully at this point you will all be able to reconcile the matter, forgive, pray for each other and see your relationship restored.

     If you have done your very best, and the one who made the offense escalates the accusations and gossip...

THEN take the THIRD STEP

"Tell it to the congregation"  -all the particulars of the gossip do not have to be made public, the two persons of the conflict should be NAMED and the assessment made public by the two or three witnesses before the congregation.  The Scripture says "if he neglect to hear the congregation" in other words the two or three witnesses and their testimony will also be judged by the congregation, this has the effect of prohibiting a peer group from running roughshod over the congregation.

"But if he neglect to hear the congregation, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."  -the congregation and the parties to the infraction must be provided a time and place to address the matter if necessary and make statements regarding the matter.  If the offender goes against the congregation they must repent before being restored to the congregation, it is best if they bring their repentance to the congregation by stating their offense as well as what they've done to reconcile the matter.  If that matter could not be reconciled in the SECOND STEP and the leadership of the congregation refuses to judge the matter righteously and take this third step, then you should be looking for the door of the congregation and don't bother going back.  It is a social club that does not Fear YHWH nor choose to establish righteousness in their community.

     It's not easy to deal with habitual gossipers, they tend to mount attacks against everyone who attempt to stop them.  Anyone who habitually gossips about others demonstrates that they have given ground to hasatan, no one can know how deep the reprobation is in their soul, they close themselves and gossip about others.  It doesn't matter how many "redeeming" things there are in the person or what office they hold, unclean spirits can infiltrate where we least expect them.  When a person habitually gossips it indicates underlying problems within their soul.  Gossip begins with idle or trivial talk, jesting, vanity then escalates into reprobation and puts off all manner of carnal energy.  Mature communities will not tolerate gossip, each soul must be accountable to one another and have holy conversation at all times, we all make mistakes but we must each also humble ourselves and accept necessary correction.

     If you are a minority within a congregation of gossipers, if you cannot find two or three witnesses who will go with you to correct a trespass or gossip, if the person refuses to meet with you or with the witnesses then you must not expose yourself to abuse.  In this case either you or the congregation is carnally minded and a decision must be made to change the scenery.  The greatness of the Ruach HaKodesh (Set-Apart Spirit) within the soul of the righteous must not be subject to evil spirits otherwise a person will eventually become lukewarm.  The Neshama must be elevated in each soul and treated with respect, but in so doing evil and hurtful activities must be judged and forbidden within each interpersonal relationship and within the entire community.

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" James 1:19

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."  James 3:6

"For every kind of beast, bird, serpent, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be. Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Or a vine bear figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." James 3:7-13

"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are called unto this, that you should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it." 1 Peter 3:9-11.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of Elohim, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be kind to one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as Elohim for Mashiyach's sake has forgiven you."  Ephesians 4:29-32

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. For everything is exposed and revealed by the light, and everything that reveals is light."  Ephesians 5:11-13

"To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." Titus 3:2-3

"Draw nigh to Elohim, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of YHWH, and He shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the Torah, and judges the Torah: but if you judge the Torah, you are not a doer of Torah, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judges another?" James 4:8-12.

     Mankind has a problem controlling the tongue, the only way to get the victory over this demon is to understand that YHWH strictly forbids it and have a consensus that gossip will never be tolerated.  Each one must be accountable for what comes out of the mouth.

     The underlying agenda of the gossiper is to destroy the Unity of Mashiyach to establish their own carnal authority.  A habitual gossiper proves their reprobate soul has fallen far into the pit where the Ruach HaKodesh is unable to convict them of their gossip transgressions.  The gossiper is deceived to think they are doing a service by "exposing" others, the fact is they are living and thinking according to the demon infested world in which they live, they are exposing only what is in their own soul.  The only way to stop the gossiper is to have consensus and say no.  What if the congregational leader is the full time gossiper?  What if the leader is using gossip and witchcraft to manipulate people?  Beware of false religious leaders, these are the greatest abominations of all mankind, flee from them, be ye separate and touch not the unclean thing!

The Word of YHWH is quick and

P O W E R F U L

and sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow, and is a

discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Let all our conversation be Holy unto YHWH!

     If we find ourselves in situations where the leadership is incapable or unwilling to address the gossip coming from their own mouths, we must follow righteous counsel.

Warn others, do not remain silent!

All that hate me whisper together against me:

against me do they devise my hurt.

Psalm 41:7

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 

Come out of her, my people,

that you be not partakers of her sins, 

and that you receive not of her plagues . 

Revelation 18:4

YHWH be with you!

Shalom U'Vrachot,

Baruch Ben Daniel