St Paul wrote, ‘Be careful not to be self-serving. Serve one another in works of love. Love your neighbour as yourself. If you go about snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces you will destroy the whole community.’
Gossip, criticism, name-calling, angry outbursts, making judgements and accusations about others are just some ways our words can hurt others. St Paul calls us to love others as we love ourselves.