Gossip - Has no place in the Church

We often write about divorce, drunkenness, etc., in the church. I would like to write about one of the sins that can destroy a church and a ministry in a very short time. Gossip about your pastor, about your leadership, about your church family, can be more deadly than just about anything.

Scripture speaks to this sin for sure.

Leviticus 19:16 - Do not go about spreading slander among your people.

Proverbs 11:13 - A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Proverbs 20:19 - A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Luke 6:45 - The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

As Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, he was concerned about gossip along with other sins in the life of the church.

2 Corinthians 12:20-21 - 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

It isn't always the outward, visible sins that hurt and destroy. Gossip, along with other relational sins as mentioned in the above passage can do as much if not more damage. I have seen attitudes, gossip, anger, rage, jealousy, envy, unstable emotions, and more hurt ministries.

Your thoughts?