You’ve probably heard the words of the song: “Idle words oh let them never, from your tongue and bridle slip.” I heard them as a boy, and of course, my understanding of the term ”idle words” always seemed just that—idle, useless, empty, frivolous, or worthless. That was until I read a passage from the well-known bestseller, The Desire of Ages, page 321. The author, Ellen G. White, in the chapter entitled “Who Are My Brethren?” makes the point that idle and evil words are closely related to the unpardonable sin or the sin against the Holy Spirit. Let’s tune in to what she writes.

“Closely connected with Christ’s warning in regard to the sin against the Holy Spirit is a warning against idle and evil words. The words are an indication of that which is in the heart. . . . But the words are more than an indication of character; they have power to react on the character. . . . Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. . . . The habit of careless and irreverent criticism [or gossip, typically defined as derogatory talk about other people] reacts upon the character, in fostering irreverence and unbelief. Many a man indulging this habit has gone on unconscious danger, until he is ready to criticize and reject the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, ‘Every idle word men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.’ ”(See Matt 12:36, 37).

In other words, when one practices the behavior of gossip or idle, derogatory, backbiting talk about other people, it is not just idle, empty talk in which they are engaged. They are playing with their own eternal destiny by standing the risk of rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit in their life.

Wow, this ought to be a wake up call every time someone attempts to talk negatively about another person to you. After all, isn’t it true that whoever gossips to you will gossip about you? Should we not stop them in their tracks by saying, “Please, let’s make this positive so we can keep this person about whom you are speaking in our prayers.”

Remember, gossip doesn’t need to be false in order to be evil—there's a lot of truth that should never be shared or intentionally passed around!

It was Bertrand Russell, in his book On Education (1926), who wrote: “No one gossips about other people's secret virtues.” Which is what makes gossip so detestable—it thrives on dirt, not virtues. I’m often reminded, every time I pass by a gold mine (which is all I can do, just pass by), that in order to get an ounce of gold from the ground, one sometimes has to remove a ton of dirt. But people don’t go into the mine looking for dirt, rather, they’re looking for gold. Instead of looking for dirt in people (who doesn’t have it?), let’s look for the gold.

A Jewish proverb says: “What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth.”

The Apostle Paul also gives sage council: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true . . . excellent, or praiseworthy—think about such things”—Philippians 4:8 (NIV).

Donald G. King is president of the Atlantic Union Conference and chairman of the Atlantic Union College Board of Trustees.