Narcissists are careful to withhold information from others because they fear others will do what they do and that is gossip and change the narrative.
Open and honest people who are full of integrity tell the truth but are discerning with whom they share because the world is full of narcissists who love to have a smidgen of the truth while embellishing the rest of the story with their own desired version.
We have even seen the one who gossips treat us disrespectfully based on their desired belief about us rather than on any knowledge about us.
These people do not judge righteously according to God's Word, they judge according to their desired belief about us with little or no information, or worse base don what others have said about us not on what they have seen for themselves.
When we see that someone is like this, manifesting a character of deception, with a desire to ruin us, God is clear that we are to avoid such people. Their goal is to cause trouble and a fight so they can feel justified in their lies. These people convince others of their distortions to gain followers for themselves.
Gossips are gossips because they must have followers. They cannot be alone in their lies. The more people they can bring alongside the more they begin to believe their own lies.
When a lie is repeated enough times it is impossible for those who heard it to believe the truth. In fact they are so convinced of what they have heard several times that they begin to treat the target disrespectfully the same way the original gossipmonger treats their target.
This is the reason it is very important not to listen to the testimonies of those who walk in anger without love for others. They will eventually get to you the first sign that you are not with them in their deceptions.
Proverbs 9:8
"Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."
Proverbs 23:9
"Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words."
Proverbs 26:4
"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him."
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."
Proverbs 16:28
"A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
