Is it Gossip to Criticize Pastors and Leaders?
- Thread starter KohenMatt
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
3 John 1:9-10 (KJV)
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
If you criticize their doctrine it is not gossip as that would be common knowledge...but still, you should confront them if it's a serious deviation.
To criticize their character or family behind their back is gossip.
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
If you criticize their doctrine it is not gossip as that would be common knowledge...but still, you should confront them if it's a serious deviation.
To criticize their character or family behind their back is gossip.
Wise words, Crossnote.
I think gossip is when a second party talks to a third person about the first person - pastor, leader or congregation
It gives the first person no chance to respond and it is not Biblical.
"They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents," Romans 1:29-30
However, I once was in a church where the pastor was totally off course. He had abandoned the Bible completely and was preaching from books and claiming it was a word from God. For years!
A few of us talked quietly about the situation. Then he ousted a long time member and his wife. (The reason was because this man was arguing about which chord to play on the guitar in a worship song, and the pastor took it as an attack on his son. I was there and nothing bad happened!) Then more people left. Finally, I talked to him directly and told him that he simply was not preaching the Bible anymore. I asked him if he intended to change that, and he denied my charge. I left the church. People continued to leave the church. That pastor finally had to get a part time job, because so little money was coming in.
Meanwhile, half the church was displaced, looking for a home. The ones who stayed agreed with us that the pastor had gone off track. But no one really seriously "talked" about what he was doing. I guess to avoid the charge of gossip.
He destroyed that church, and drove many people from God. How much better if we had had a congregational meeting and openly discussed our concerns? How much better if he had been given an ultimatum to either preach the Bible or he would be replaced?
I think there may be valid times to discuss leadership, like in my example. That is not gossip, but rather working together to prevent bad from happening to a congregation.
I think gossip is when a second party talks to a third person about the first person - pastor, leader or congregation
It gives the first person no chance to respond and it is not Biblical.
"They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents," Romans 1:29-30
However, I once was in a church where the pastor was totally off course. He had abandoned the Bible completely and was preaching from books and claiming it was a word from God. For years!
A few of us talked quietly about the situation. Then he ousted a long time member and his wife. (The reason was because this man was arguing about which chord to play on the guitar in a worship song, and the pastor took it as an attack on his son. I was there and nothing bad happened!) Then more people left. Finally, I talked to him directly and told him that he simply was not preaching the Bible anymore. I asked him if he intended to change that, and he denied my charge. I left the church. People continued to leave the church. That pastor finally had to get a part time job, because so little money was coming in.
Meanwhile, half the church was displaced, looking for a home. The ones who stayed agreed with us that the pastor had gone off track. But no one really seriously "talked" about what he was doing. I guess to avoid the charge of gossip.
He destroyed that church, and drove many people from God. How much better if we had had a congregational meeting and openly discussed our concerns? How much better if he had been given an ultimatum to either preach the Bible or he would be replaced?
I think there may be valid times to discuss leadership, like in my example. That is not gossip, but rather working together to prevent bad from happening to a congregation.
A
Last I heard, pastors and leaders are brothers, so this still applies.
Matt. 18: 15-17
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Gossip (or berating them online on CC even though you don't know them) doesn't. Something we all have told Yet, yet Yet doesn't listen, thus he is a heathen.
Matt. 18: 15-17
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Gossip (or berating them online on CC even though you don't know them) doesn't. Something we all have told Yet, yet Yet doesn't listen, thus he is a heathen.
M
Ezekiel was told to shake the dust off of his feet and continue onward, thus leaving one church or teaching for another. Is it gossip to talk to another about misteachings when one knows for a fact it is not of the word of God? Now, what if one knows that the preacher is teaching that which is not of God and another is ignorant of the fact?. Should not the one who knows the truth sound the alarm for the others? Another thing to consider is that in condoning false teaching, even when one knows better, they then become partakers of an evil deed and so by keeping silent, are we not also those same partakers?
Tell them the truth face to face if possible and if you cannot, ask another who can relay the message to go to the elder and tell them/him the truth according to the word of God.
"Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:17-18)
"One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established." (Deuteronomy 19:15)
"Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses." (1 Timothy 5:19)
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
Last edited:
The only trouble was that in the church I cited above, the pastor refused to appoint elders, "because they just get in the way and cause problems."
In fact, I was taking church polity course and wanted to know the difference between elders and deacons. That was his answer. It took me a while to realize that was the whole problem- this pastor refused to be accountable to anyone, especially the members of his church. Not Biblical at all!
In fact, I was taking church polity course and wanted to know the difference between elders and deacons. That was his answer. It took me a while to realize that was the whole problem- this pastor refused to be accountable to anyone, especially the members of his church. Not Biblical at all!
I have been guilty of it... There are issues and flaws that people have, but honestly if we're not willing to say it to their face then why are we saying it to someone else? Telling someone else may get it off our chest but it won't help the situation. And also if we do talk to the leader it should be constructive no matter what.
Confronting a pastor can get pretty dicey. I did that once. I questioned the pastor about what he preached one Sunday morning. He didn't respond, but as I found out later, he had called all the people he could to attend church the next Wednesday night. There were about 150 people there that evening and usually about 30 to 40 most every Sunday morning. I didn't count heads, but there were more than twice as many people in church that evening than any Sunday morning I can remember. Standing room only.
After they judged me for confronting the pastor, and called me all kinds of things in relation to being a heretic of sorts, I asked to speak, remembering how Paul spoke after his arrest. I remember only one thing that I said with a shout. "I will NOT deny any part of the word of God." My wife said that everybody bounced on their butts with shock when I said "NOT." Within the month, the church doors were closed. It completely died off.
After they judged me for confronting the pastor, and called me all kinds of things in relation to being a heretic of sorts, I asked to speak, remembering how Paul spoke after his arrest. I remember only one thing that I said with a shout. "I will NOT deny any part of the word of God." My wife said that everybody bounced on their butts with shock when I said "NOT." Within the month, the church doors were closed. It completely died off.
B
>>>>I think gossip is when a second party talks to a third person about the first person - pastor, leader or congregation
It gives the first person no chance to respond and it is not Biblical. <<<<
I agree, criticism or negativity need not be an element... merely "sharing" non-public or personal information is gossiping.
It gives the first person no chance to respond and it is not Biblical. <<<<
I agree, criticism or negativity need not be an element... merely "sharing" non-public or personal information is gossiping.
All elders are pastors. See: 1Peter 5. We can't even discuss this subject until we line up with Gods word.
To correct 'the pastor' is bogus, silly at best, tragic at worse! The first heresy is that he has desired the preeminence in the first place, see: 3John.
The nail I keep hammering will one day, one day sink in for some, not all, but for some.
To correct a 'pastor' on the trivial is like going up to a bank robber and correcting him about throwing his candy bar wrapper on the ground!!
Not a single word about his career choice! The coffee is brewing...gotta go...wake me up when you get there!
To correct 'the pastor' is bogus, silly at best, tragic at worse! The first heresy is that he has desired the preeminence in the first place, see: 3John.
The nail I keep hammering will one day, one day sink in for some, not all, but for some.
To correct a 'pastor' on the trivial is like going up to a bank robber and correcting him about throwing his candy bar wrapper on the ground!!
Not a single word about his career choice! The coffee is brewing...gotta go...wake me up when you get there!
