Jerry Bridges has written a new book called, “Respectable Sins” in which he confronts sins that are common among us.  One chapter is dedicated to “Sins of the Tongue.”

 

He lists, “Lying, slander, critical speech (even when true) harsh words, insults, sarcasm and ridicule. In fact, we would have to say that any speech that tends to tear down another person – either someone we re talking about or someone we are talking to – is sinful speech.” P159

 

He notes that “the book of Proverbs contains about 60 warnings” against sins of the tongue.

 

He explains two categories of sins of the tongue.

 

First, “gossip”, which is “the spreading of unfavorable information about someone else, even if that information is true.” P160 

 

Second, “slander”, which “is making a false statement or misrepresentation about another person that defames or damages the person’s reputation…. We slander when we ascribe wrong motives to people, even though we can’t see their hearts, or know their particular circumstances.   We slander when we misrepresent another person’s position on a subject without first determining what that person’s position is. We slander when we blow out of proportion another person’s sin and make that person appear to be more sinful than he or she really is… He says, “Slander is actually lying.” p161