While I really appreciate the point of this post, I do want to suggest to you and others that Jesus is clearly portrayed as gossiping negatively in Matthew’s gospel. After publicly shaming the Pharisees into silence (Mt 22:46), Jesus “pours salt into the wound” (so to speak) by turning away from them, to the crowd to gossip with them about the Pharisees, and with the Pharisees standing right there (Mt 23:1-7)! Scholars who study gossip in the New Testament recognize this example of gossiping as particularly aggressive since it is intended to be overheard (and immediately!) by the subject(s). Jesus turns away from the Pharisees toward the crowd (thus, rendering the Pharisees “absent” to the discussion), then invites the crowd to construct the Pharisees negatively with him – “they don’t practice what they preach!” and “They do (good) works only to be seen doing them.” The situation as it is described fits the definition of gossip to a “T.”

Gossip in Jesus’ time and place was perceived as something “not good,” but it was put into practice by everybody, all the time. In fact, such talk was an essential social process involved in the construction and maintenance of manners, customs, mores, and group & individual identity.

Paul the Apostle gossips very negatively about Peter to the Galatians (read Gal 2:11-14). This is an example of “epistolary gossip” (gossiping in a letter) as Paul invites the Galatians to construct Peter as a “coward” and a “hypocrite.”

This doesn’t mean Jesus and Paul were bad guys; By no means! But it does situate them believably in their social-cultural context.

I’m not suggesting that gossiping badly about people is “OK” or something like that. [It IS possible to gossip positively too – we should all practice that kind of speech.] Gossip can tear down and apart and injure and destroy – for sure. But I couldn’t resist responding given the title of your post “Jesus Didn’t Gossip” since, in fact, according to Matthew, he did!

Blessings to you and your ministry with this blog.

Jack

http://culturaljesus.wordpress.com/

Ha. Gossip about a gossiper. Yeah, actually God convicted me of something I personally said recently about someone. He’s patient and faithful to lead us.

Ugh. I don’t “like” writing such convicting things — convicting to me! But it was heavy in my spirit after something I said recently to someone about someone else. (Tongue twister.) God convicted. He does that, for our good and His glory.

Thanks for convicting reminder!.

Wow, Heather. That is drastic, but I can see how that would helpful. Thanks for sharing – I think it’s an approach I’ll take!

Love it, Heather! That’s a great phrase to keep in our minds. “Say it to her face.”