With the deception, wickedness, and destruction that Satan is sneaking into local churches these days, it is essential that Pastors and local church leadership exercise Biblical protections for their congregations. The vilest and most vicious behavior is often exercised by the sweetest, most talented, and seemingly most spiritual people.
It comes in both genders, all ages and races. It comes under the guise of, "putting Jesus first." This is why the Bible tells us not to "put our hands" (of approval) on anyone quickly. Sadly, there are fewer and fewer pastors who have discernment and Biblical knowledge of church management and leadership. They are seeking numbers and images rather than lost souls that need to be converted, discipled, and equipped for ministry and leadership.
As long as churches are seeking fleshly trophies (numerical, financial, and popularity), then their churches are sheep left open to the attacks of the wolves that will devour and abuse them.
It is bad enough that pastors are little more than hirelings and have no Biblical sense of responsibility to protect their parishioners, but it is especially bad when a pastor is contacted privately, by another pastor or concerned believer in the area, offering information that might save his congregation from being deceived, abused and divided, and his young people from being either drawn away by a self-serving wolf in sheep's clothing, or driven away from a Biblical faith and a loving family relationship. Yet this is what I am seeing happen. If Christians would just be actual, Bible believing, Spirit led Christians, they would not swallow the swill of the fake ministers, on public media or in-person "ministries" that slither onto their church platforms. Someone needs to guard the dignity and influence of the pulpit.
But what if the person who comes to inform and to warn is wrong or is a false witness? The pastor and the leadership still need to be willing to hear the allegations. If they are groundless, then no harm is done. Pastors and leadership are not called or excused for being gullible, but they are answerable to God for allowing their ministry to be sabotaged and their people exploited and their young people led astray. If the warning is not well founded, then the church becomes aware that there is an accuser of the brethren bearing false witness. If the information and warning is viable, then the people are protected, God's name is glorified and the community is spared from a church scandal and debacle.
Don't be shmoozed into a gossip attack on godly people. If you hear something bad, DO NOT REPEAT IT. You may need to talk to the accused person to find out if the attacks were true. Individuals, families and entire churches suffer because people like to hear juicy lies about other people, and the juicier the accusation is, along with the godlier the falsely accused person is, then the better some "Christian" people like it. I am not surprised at the openly pagan person being a scandalous talebearer, but those who claim to be part of the family of God would be better off if a millstone were tied about their neck and thrown into Bogue Sound.
Acts 20:28-30 (God's directive [through Paul] to the elders of local churches)
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
