Ask Salt&Light: What do I do about office gossip?
Ask Salt&Light gives our readers the opportunity to ask Christian ministry staff and marketplace leaders questions about the practicalities of living out the Christian faith in the workplace.
Deputy Senior Pastor Chua Seng Lee and Pastor Felicia Goh-Ong, Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church // July 2, 2018, 8:00 am
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
Dear Salt&Light,
My colleagues’ water cooler talk is often gossipy and rather mean. But if I don’t join in, I become the outsider and possibly the next target for gossip. What should I do?
Connie Zhang, 26, Retail Manager
Gossip is toxic and sinful (Psalm 101:5, Proverbs 6:16-19, Proverbs 11:13, Proverbs 20:19), and believers should have no part in these.
The best thing would be to find other circles of friendship at the workplace and not participate in mean water cooler talk.
Even if you become the next target for gossip, don’t let that bother you. The Lord is our vindicator and He will fight for us (Exodus 14:14) when we centre ourselves on Him.
Even if you become the next target for gossip, don’t let that bother you. The Lord is our vindicator.
But if you choose to continue to be part of such a group, then be proactive and intentional about your presence.
Don’t contribute to the gossip. Change the topic. Or share something positive or alternatively good about the person they are talking about.
At all times be above reproach – don’t provide fodder for gossip!
Remember that we are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), and that our words are meant to bring life, not destruction (Ephesians 4:29).
So change the environment of your group with your words and posture today.
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