This week, I want to share a true story about rumors and gossip. The Bible strongly warns against spreading or believing false reports and gossip. God places great importance on how we use our words, as they have the power to build up or tear down reputations, relationships, and even entire communities. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
My daughter came home from school and said, “Mom, you’re not going to believe what happened in history class today.” Her teacher told the class they were going to play a game. He walked around the room and whispered to each kid whether they were a witch or just a regular person.
Then he gave the instructions: “Form the biggest group you can without a witch. If your group has even one, you all fail.”
She said the whole room instantly lit up with suspicion. Everyone started interrogating each other. Are you a witch? How do we know you’re not lying?
Some kids clung to one big group, but most broke off into smaller, exclusive cliques. They turned away anyone who seemed uncertain, nervous, or gave off even the slightest hint of being guilty.
The energy shifted fast. Suddenly everyone was suspicious of everyone else. Whispers. Finger-pointing. Side-eyes. Trust dissolved in minutes.
Finally, when all the groups were formed, the teacher said, “Alright, time to find out who fails. Witches, raise your hands.” And not one hand went up. The whole class exploded. “Wait! You messed up the game!”
And then the teacher dropped the bomb: “Did I? Were there any actual witches in Salem, or did everyone just believe what they were told?” My daughter said the room went dead silent.
That’s when it hit them. No witch was ever needed for the damage to happen. Fear had already done its work. Suspicion alone divided the entire class, turning community into chaos.
And isn’t that exactly what we’re seeing today? Different words, same playbook. Instead of “witch,” it’s liberal, conservative, vaxxed, unvaxxed, pro-this, anti-that. The labels shift, but the tactic is the same.
Get people scared. Get them suspicious. Get them divided. Then sit back while trust crumbles. The danger was never the witch. The danger is the rumor. The suspicion. The fear. The planted lies. Refuse the whisper. Don’t play the game. Because the second we start hunting “witches,” we’ve already lost.
This is a powerful story. Think about all the rumors and gossip we hear today. They reach us through so many channels—the internet, friends, our leaders, and radio and television media.
It’s so easy to get caught up in spreading rumors. Sometimes it’s something we want to believe, or it’s so outrageous that it feels like it must be true. The Bible has plenty to say about the dangers of rumors and gossip. Here’s just a few verses.
Exodus 23:1 You shall not spread a false report (rumors). You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness.
Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man spreads strife, and one who gossips separates intimate friends.
1 Timothy 5:13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also they become gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
You can learn a lot about a person by the way they speak. Proverbs 21:23 says, “One who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” Similarly, in the book of James, it states, “If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless, and he deceives himself.” In essence, if you don’t have anything kind to say about someone, it’s best to keep quiet!
Here’s something to consider—are you mindful of the words you speak? Do you find yourself caught up in spreading rumors or gossip? If so, it might be a good time to reflect and pray about it. Maybe you’ve never had a deep connection with God, or perhaps you’ve lost touch and need to rebuild that relationship. It’s time to make things right. Life is short. It’s time to pray.
Tell God you believe His Son Jesus paid for your sins and rose again. Tell God you are sorry and want to start Living for Him. He will forgive your sins and mistakes and give you Everlasting Life with Him… and place His Spirit deep within your heart. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
I pray that God will genuinely help and bless you. If you’d like me to pray with you, feel free to email me at Bob.L@magnificentPromises.com. May God bless and keep you always!
Bob
This was sent to me by a friend in Christ. If you have a story you would like to share, please email it to me. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I thank you for reading my blog. I do not claim to be any expert or affiliated with any religious organization. All I can say is that I’m affiliated with my Lord Jesus Christ. This is one man’s opinion and observation. My hope is I stirred up some thoughts for you to think about. There is one place that we can find all the answers to life. That road map is Commonly known as the Bible. If you want the answers to life all you have to do is read. If you would like me to pray with you or want to send a comment, please email me at Bob.L@magnificentpromises.com
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
