Eytmology of the Word "Gossip"

By Gary Amirault

All of us, who have been churched for any length of time know how much gossiping goes on in the church. I have been guilty of this crime myself on more than one occasion. We generally do not put this sin in the ranks of the higher sins according to the consensus of church opinion. As a matter of fact, we often make new members sign membership cards stating they will no longer do those nasty sins that everyone can see or hear such as drink alcohol, cuss, or smoke, but we usually don't make them stop gossiping for them to be in good standing. Gossiping is really nasty stuff. Why do we put it so low on the list?

Recently, I came across something in an old Webster's Dictionary that might tell the story. Under the origin of the word "gossip" we find it comes from two words "God" and "sipp," a relation. In other words, a gossip originally was related to God, a child of God! If we threw out of the church all those guilty of gossip, the church of God would be empty! One day soon, we will look up the word, "God." This will bring forth even a bigger surprise than "gossip."