We have all been there - beside the water cooler when someone begins talking about a co-worker's weekend, walking into a restroom to hear conversations hushed to a whisper, at lunch when the entire table roars in laughter at another co-worker's misfortune. At the root of these situations is idle talk, which can sometimes be labeled as gossip.
Know What Scripture Says about Gossip
Gossip is often untrue, demeaning, detrimental to one's reputation, and always wrong. As you seek God's truth in Scripture, you will find many passages that speak of the evils of gossip. In Proverbs 20:19, the Scripture says, "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much." You will also find in Proverbs 11:13, "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret."
In the workplace, gossip is a temptation for both males and females. None of us are immune to the gossip temptation, but we can learn some workplace strategies that will help us continue to be a Christian witness and not allow gossip to lure us into sin.
Distance Yourself from Gossip
If you find that others often come to you to share juicy tidbits of information about the workplace or those you work with, consider why they are coming. If you openly invite others into your office to share office rumors or gossip, they will begin to see you as a willing participant in the gossip game.
If you want to break that mold, try some of these responses to try to encourage them not to share with you so openly: "I am not sure that he would want us talking about his personal life like that. Let's not talk about that anymore." Or, maybe, "I only consider information to be true if I actually hear it from the person involved."
Don't Gossip
We can all be tempted to engage in gossip. Gossip, in Christian circles, can even come disguised as a prayer request. Consider these questions before you decide to share information about someone in your workplace: Does this information build up the person or tear her down? Do I have good reason to share this information? Do I need to verify the accuracy of the information before I share it? Would I be embarrassed or ashamed if the person knew I was saying this about her?
Sometimes keeping information to yourself is the best solution, especially if you are not sure if the information is legitimate. Often your best response as a Christian is to help stop the rumor and gossip in its tracks. In fact, Proverbs 10: 19 says, "he who holds his tongue is wise."
Don't allow the Holy Spirit to be grieved by the sins of the tongue. Do your part in honoring God by holding your tongue and by offering forgiveness when gossip invades your workplace.