In Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book,” he describes a curious facet of human nature. In describing the monkeys who live in the treetops, which he refers to as the Bandar-log, or “monkey people,” he describes how they gossip about others a great deal, repeating whatever they hear, but they don’t accomplish anything of value in their own lives. This is a fitting analogy to humans, as he goes on to describe a type of mindless chatter, believing and repeating any hearsay, and the consequences it has to their lives. Below is an excerpt from “The Jungle Book.”
“…the Monkey Folk who live in the trees… have no speech of their own, but use the stolen words which they overhear when they listen and peep and wait up above in the branches… vain, foolish, and chattering—are the monkeys.” From Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
This effectively describes gossipers. They “use the stolen words which they overhear,” and in so doing, they become “vain, foolish and chattering.”
Romans 1:22 “Claiming to be wise, they became fools”
The ridiculous chants and lawless, primitive conduct of the monkey people are echoed in their mantra:
“We are great. We are free. We are wonderful. We are the most wonderful people in all the jungle! We all say so, and so it must be true.” From Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
Their constant clamor reinforces their vain and spiritually blind opinions about themselves and others, despite evidence to the contrary. The belief that if many say something then it must be true has led many Christians to believe in a lie, and even to turn on God’s anointed due to false beliefs and slander. Satanists love it when Christians do this.
How does gossip and slander affect one’s character? Rudyard Kipling answered that question in his description of the monkey people.
“…whenever they found a sick wolf, or a wounded tiger or bear, the monkeys would torment him, and would throw sticks and nuts at any beast for fun and in the hope of being noticed… They are very many, evil, dirty, shameless, and they desire, if they have any fixed desire, to be noticed… But we do not notice them even when they throw nuts and filth on our heads.” From Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
Gossip is like throwing filth on someone else’s head, and is certainly not one of the fruits of the spirit. Such indiscriminate gossip being flung around from person to person has harmed many people. When it is done by Christians it has far reaching consequences.
I remember once when an associate pastor of a church was called out for flirting (to be mild) with several married women, and even causing marriage problems with some of them. Instead of repenting, he came against the person who exposed his evil. Outraged that he was exposed, he very effectively slandered this person and tried to shut down their ministry. Because of the vicious gossip, people who would have come to a conference that was being held by this minister did not come. As a result of this slander, they not only canceled but also stopped many others from going to it.
The night before this conference took place a prophet had a vision of this associate pastor. In his vision he reached out to shake the man’s hand, but quickly drew it back when he saw the associate pastor’s hand covered with blood. The sense was that because of the gossip and slander, someone who would have come to the conference, and would have found salvation and healing from trauma, perished instead. This associate pastor will bear the blood of this person’s (or multiple people’s) death, whether it was physical or spiritual.
Make no mistake about it, gossip is not innocent.
Matthew 12:36-37 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Kipling goes on to describe the monkey people as a leaderless, boastful people who never accomplish anything of value in this life.
“Their way is not our way. They are without leaders. They have no remembrance. They boast and chatter and pretend that they are a great people about to do great affairs in the jungle, but the falling of a nut turns their minds to laughter, and all is forgotten… ‘They never go far,’ he said, with a chuckle. ‘They never do what they set out to do.’” From Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
We, as Christians, are not without a leader. Jesus Christ is our commander and chief. We were all created to accomplish much for the Kingdom of God. The exploits we are to do are all written in our books in heaven.
Ps 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Leo Tolstoy said many are not willing to raise themselves up to a higher level (spiritually) in order to comprehend what they are so harshly judging. If they did, they would see a very different perspective, and would not judge the same way. Christians would do well to understand this concept.
So how do you put an end to such gossip? First of all, do some deep soul searching, and repent of anytime you may have engaged in such activity. If people are rallying others against someone, you need to stop and question it. Witches do this all the time, and often find willing participants among Christians.
How much faster would victims of trauma begin to heal if the church would inquire of the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth, instead of acting like the “monkey people?” How many times has gossip and slander derailed trauma survivors from their healing journey? If the body of Christ began to discern, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and listen to and believe the victims instead of the abusers, more people would find the church a safe place to heal and grow.
Prov 18:17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
How many times have church members, and religious leaders, judged someone according to slander, and never inquired of the Holy Spirit, and never even sought to find out what the other side of the story was? Witches love it when no one investigates the other side of a story. Of course, witches don’t tell you they’re witches. They often lead people to believe they are Christian to gain acceptance, and this is why we need to be discerning. The Holy Spirit will not lead us astray.
I’ve found a very good way of stopping slander in its tracks. When someone comes to you with a bad report about another, instead of just believing it and repeating it, have the accuser and the accused come together face to face, and inquire of both sides. This way nothing is said behind someone’s back that they can’t defend themselves from. Everything is out in the open. If you see the accuser start to backpedal, and say they didn’t really mean it the way it sounded, you know they were slandering someone. Other times the accuser will cleverly change the subject so they don’t have to give an account of what they said. If you hear the accuser coming against the accused with hatred and intimidation to try to convince you they are speaking the truth, you know they are an abuser. One needs discernment here, as a victim will often have righteous indignation, and anger and high emotions towards their abuser, but not intimidation. Whether the accuser or the accused is guilty, it will usually come out when they are confronted, and then repentance and healing can begin.
Matt 18:15-16 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
When everything comes out in the open, people who are slandering will stop, people who are lying for any reason will stop, and victims will not be under the oppression of slander spread around by their abusers any longer. Those who were mindlessly believing slander will be convicted and become more discerning. We must resolve not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices. We must inquire about the other side of the story from the source, that is the victim, and above all, to always seek the truth through the Holy Spirit instead of through man.
Because of Kipling’s characterization of these monkey people, the term has come to invoke any group of foolish, thoughtless babblers. Interestingly, Psychologists have a term they use for gossipers who are easily used by narcissists and other abusive people. They refer to them as “flying monkey’s.”
The term “flying monkey” came from the Wizard of Oz, where the witch used literal flying monkeys to do her evil work for her. This term is now synonymous with those who do someone else’s dirty work, whether through spreading gossip and slander, gaslighting, trying to humiliate another person, etc. This effectively hurts a person, can further dehumanize a victim, and ultimately reinforces the power of the abuser. It is also used by those trying to get people on their side, often through gossip and slander.
Satanists use the practice of discrediting their victims through slander and gossip before their victim can even speak out. Such slander is always done behind the victim’s back, so they are unaware of it, and therefore cannot defend themselves from it. Often such defamation starts when the victim is still a child, and pervades the whole family, extended family, schools, community, etc. The child, of course, is generally unaware of it, confused by people’s reactions, and helpless to do anything about it.
Buddhists refer to the human mind as being occupied by drunken monkeys, continually chattering, hurling themselves around on the branches with unrestrained behavior. They refer to this as monkey mind chatter. Although it is meant more for the distractions that we all have in our minds, it dramatically describes gossipers.
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
According to the scriptures, we are kings and priests unto God. The children of God need to stop behaving like “monkey people,” and start seeking the truth from the Holy Spirit. We need to start putting on the mind of Christ and stop behaving like mere beasts. Let us all resolve to be more diligent about taking captive every thought, every idle word, and every accusation against another that is based on hearsay.