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That Which Defiles the Entire Body

By Daniel Lancaster | Posted on January 22, 2007

Is there anything more defiling than unclean food? Is there anything more levitically defiling than a corpse? According to the Master, there is something that is even more defiling than levitical uncleanness, something that defiles not just the flesh, but also the soul. Yeshua says, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man“ (Mark 7:20). Yeshua's little brother echoed his teaching when he wrote, "The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell." (James 3:6)

Nothing is more interesting than rumors. We report the things we have heard to one another “for the good of the congregation,” because “we all have the right to know” and so that “you can pray about it.” Proverbs 18:8 says, “The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.”

Gossips and spreaders of vitriol feel that so long as the information they are spreading is true (or mostly true), then it’s OK. Gossip can contain truth (i.e. “So-and-so doesn’t come to the congregation anymore”) wrapped in speculation (i.e. “because he has turned his back on Messiah"). Just because the first part is true does not make the second part true.

The Jewish term for gossip is lashon hora, which means “evil tongue.” James, the brother of Yeshua says, “The tongue is a restless evil and full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). Gossip poisons communities, makes enemies out of friends, fractures fellowship and ultimately destroys the work of the Kingdom. Gossips do not care. They feel duty bound to report their “serious concerns” about others to others and as often as possible. Gossips excuse their behavior on the pretense of higher piety.

Here are ten basic rules to remember compiled from Rabbi Israel Meir’s (Chofetz Chaim) rules of proper speach:

1. It is lashon hora (gossip) to relate negative information about someone even if the information is true.
2. Any information which is not actually derogatory but could somehow cause the subject harm is also lashon hora. Hurtful words spoken directly to a person are another form of evil speech.
3. It is lashon hora to tell a humorous anecdote about another person if it contains embarrassing information, even if there is no intent to cause harm or humiliation.
4. It is lashon hora even when you incriminate yourself along with the other person you are telling about.
5. It is still lashon hora even if communicated non-verbally, such as in writing, with gestures, with body language, vague hints, etc.
6. To speak against a community as a whole is a particularly severe offense.
7. It is still lashon hora even when spoken to close relatives or when spoken about children.
8. Even if the listener has previously heard the derogatory account or the information has become public knowledge, it is still lashon hora to repeat it and bring it up again.
9. Telling someone a derogatory statement that another person said about them, is also lashon hora because it causes animosity between people.
10. It is forbidden to listen to lashon hora. One should always give others the benefit of the doubt by dismissing nasty information as unreliable gossip.

There are times when lashon hora is permitted and even required in order to keep someone from harm. On the other hand, spreading personal impressions, second-hand information and baseless prejudices for the sake of influencing others into sharing your perspective against others is simply evil. The Master says, “I tell you, every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).

About the Author: Daniel Lancaster is FFOZ’s Director of Education and regular contributor to messiah magazine. He is the author of Torah Club Volumes Two, Four and Five, and the FFOZ books Mystery of the Gospel, Restoration and more.

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