We all grow up with different life experiences which form our beliefs about what is proper and what is not. We all have our own thoughts, beliefs and calling. However, when we disagree and see things differently than others, especially family members and coworkers, many of us are not allowed to express those thoughts, ideas and behaviors without being demonized, criticized, talked about or reviled. Gossip in the work place should not be tolerated. The gossiper is your enemy in the culture.
Gossip is demonic and I’m sure you are familiar with the grapevine. Words spoken about others carry a spiritual component that can harm or build them up. Gossip can send out to the victim confusion, shame, guilt, depression or just a general feeling of oppression and lack of hope.
Proverbs has a lot to say about words and their power. The phrase we learned as children, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” was a lie. I looked up Proverbs 12:18 and read several different translations. Here they are below:
“Reckless words pierce like a sword but the wise tongue brings healing”
“Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing”
“There is that speaketh like the piercing of a sword: but the tongue of the wise brings health”
“There are those who speak like a piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is like medicine”
It’s obvious that words spoken to someone can cut and pierce as in sarcasm. However I want you to know that words spoken about someone can be even worse, especially when this person who speaks it about you is a close family member friend or coworker. This can cause your team members’ brains to lock even though they don’t hear what was spoken. Just like an angry burst of aggression from the boss can paralyze everyone who heard it, so can gossip spoken about someone send out to them oppression and even confusion. None of us want our team members to experience confusion.
Allow me to illustrate an example from my own life when I learned this valuable spiritual lesson. It gave me insight into why I feel certain things for no reason. On a very nice day in 2003, I was driving home from a very productive meeting with the president of a firm for whom I was coaching. The meeting went great. I helped her and we made progress on her goals. I departed for the office and generally I felt really good. However, after driving a few miles I felt terrible. All my hope had gone like a python snake was squeezing out every bit of optimism that I had for the future. I almost felt a sense of panic and hopelessness.
And I said out loud “Lord… where did this come from?” Immediately my phone rang and it was a good friend of mine. I have changed the names but he said “Mike is over at Jane’s house doing some work for her and you won’t believe what Jane is saying about you.” Jane was a very close person in my life. Her words were malicious, slanderous and reckless. Even though I did not hear these words, they pierced my soul and spirit.
The gossiper in your business is your enemy. Watch what Dave Ramsey’s policy is regarding gossip. He say’s that gossip in your business is demonic and he has a zero tolerance for it.
I agree with Dave. Cut this demonic cancer out of you business.
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