It's evil. Poisonous. Satan's tool. We all have been its victim. We all have felt its callous stinger. It's ugly name is Gossip.

This scandalous word is only found in First Timothy 5:13. "And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not." It is also translated "tattlers" (KJV, ASV, YLT) and "meddling" (NLT).

Let's be honest. We all have been both consumers and suppliers of gossip (myself included). It's the sin that seduces both mature and novice Christians. How can the thoughtful Christian derail and quell juicy words of gossip?

Recognize It. Gossip is the recirculation of lies and truths. It's conversing bout people's lives, mistakes, or private matters with a prying spirit and judgmental heart (Matthew 7:1-6). It's barren of mercy and love (Matthew 23:23).

"Gossip needn't be false to be evil - there's a lot of truth that shouldn't be passed around" (Frank Clark).

Keep Your Mind Pure. Do not let your mind be stained with a gossiper's viral words. Be the godly person who short-circuits the dissemination of gossip.

Practice the Golden Rule. Jesus said, "In everything... treat people the same way you want them to treat you" (Matthew 7:12, NASB). Do you want someone to repeat "that" about you?

Be a Friend. "He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends" (Proverbs 17:9). I do not desire to hear nor think on gossip about my family, friends, and brethren. We often sing the lyrics "Make friends of God's children."

"I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth; but rather by some means excuse the faults I hear charged upon others, and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody" (Benjamin Franklin).

- Focusing On Truth, Oct. 2011, Taylors, SC