Rumours, Reputations and Redemption

For those of you who do not follow sports, I want to introduce Richard Jewell. Richard is not a professional athlete, nor has he competed as an athlete in any Olympic event, but he has been part of the Olympics. Richard Jewell was a security agent at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA. Richard was the man who discovered a pipe bomb that was intended to harm many individuals. Yet, because of his bravery and quick actions, he stopped what could have been a tragedy. Sadly, though his actions were heroic, his reputation was destroyed. Not by his character, nor his actions; it was through false information leaked to the media. In other words, slander occurred and spread like wildfire.

I share this story as there are many people within the church, may it be faithful adherents, members, volunteers, laity, and even pastors, who have fallen victim to an unbridled tongue. No church is immune to the issue of an individual, either knowingly or subconsciously, spreading gossip (slander, false witness) against another person. Sadly, for many this goes unchecked, and within the congregation are individuals who end up having their reputations, motives, and Christian character tarnished because of such sin.

Now there are many verses in the Bible that deal with the seriousness of such sin. Paul reminds all believers to let no corrupt talk come out of the mouth (Eph 4:29), while James reminds us if anyone think [they] are religious and does not bridle [their] tongue they deceive themselves (James 1:26). Proverbs makes it clear, there are six things the Lord hates, seven are an abomination to Him, and one of those in the list is a lying tongue (Read Proverbs 6:16-19). There are other Proverbs dealing with the dishonest person stirring up strife (Proverbs 16:28). The Psalmist wrote, "Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy (Psalm 101:5), another warning from Paul in Titus 3:2 instructing that no person is to speak evil of someone, avoiding quarreling, and yet many continue to take part in this specific sin.

Now, such gossip, slander, or defamation of character can and does get directed at the pastor. It happens all the time and appears at annual meetings, coffee shops, or even after the service. There is, of course, the sin itself mentioned above, along with some extra considerations. One would be that elders are to be shown double honor (1 Timothy 5:17) and the instruction "do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19). But what happens to the man Jesus called to be the under-shepherd of that flock who falls victim to this? They suffer.

I understand not all pastors will admit this, but pastors do suffer when they learn of such gossip, and suffering has nuanced degrees and presentations. When specific individuals in a congregation choose to speak words without basis, share gossip as fact, and attack the character of their undershepherd as "godly concern," it will affect the pastor and the entire congregation. The wounds of such falsehoods will impact everyone. Here are a few examples,

• The pastor will be less likely to have one-on-one conversations because he is guarding his heart and reputation.

• They will be more likely to be cold and less connected.

• There will be an exhaustion level they face over attempts to put out fires a tongue has created.

• They may be moody, or even defensive about the wounds they carry.

• The very ministry and gospel Jesus called them to convey is questionable by rumor, not by fact.

• The pastor may feel they cannot continue in the current assembly and leave (physically yes, but also mentally and spiritually, leading to possible burnout).

Now here is the question. Do you love your pastor? I am certain you do, and you want your pastor to be healthy and to serve with excellence. This is why Christians need to protect their pastor from such gossip and silence those who spread it with a biblical rebuke. There is a need not to give the gossiper your ear when they choose to speak things that are not edifying or true. Granted, it is the pastor's job to protect the sheep from the wolves, but there are times when those very sheep need to surround their shepherd and protect the pastor from other sheep or goats.

It has been said in different ways, and by different people, but I will attribute it to Mark Twain: "A lie can travel around the world and back again while the truth is lacing up its boots." In a world of Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, X, and other media outlets, gossip today causes so much damage. Now here is the thing, and back to Richard Jewell. He was eventually cleared of all suspicion, and the real bomber, Eric Rudolph, was captured in 2003, but the damage was done. It was too late. As the old carpenter saying goes, "measure twice, cut once!" Do this with your words and your audience, and stop allowing the under-shepherd who loves and cares for you to be attacked in such a way. And of course, this goes for one another as well.

Lastly, if you are wrapped up in the sin of gossip and slander, or if you are harboring hurtful unforgiveness or bitterness, run to Jesus. His grace is sufficient for every need, and by His Spirit, you can find forgiveness and freedom from such bondage. If you are a pastor who has been wounded by others, run to the arms of Christ. Find someone to talk to, and work through the pain so that you can be free from such hurt and serve with excellence.

In His merciful arms,

Pastor Steve