The Bible MANDATES that we expose wickedness, especially within church leadership! Paul made it very clear in 1 Tim 5:21 that he was charging you and me with the responsibility of holding elders (leaders) accountable for unrepentant sin. When Paul wrote words of rebuke to churches, it was most always to the citywide church and rarely to an individual congregation. On occasion he also told them to pass those letters along so the other churches would know what was going on. Paul’s intent was to protect the flock!
1 Tim 5:21
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
Where do we go from here?
Distinctions MUST be drawn between gossip, slander, and the biblical requirement to examine and expose certain people, or you end up in error and wickedness will abound!
The biblical REQUIREMENT that an overseer’s life be above reproach is proof that the lives of leaders are subject to public scrutiny. Even more so once accusations have been raised against them. 1 Tim 3:2, Titus 1:6
Titus 3:10
If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.
Rom 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, 👉mark them which cause divisions and offences👈 contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
1 Cor 5:11
But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. 👉“Expel the wicked man from among you.”👈
Eph 5:11
And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even EXPOSE THEM.
2 Cor 11
12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
13 For such men are 👉false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.👈 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
1 Tim 5
19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
Make SURE you get the next verse as Paul charged you with the responsibility!
👉21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.👈
Wickedness is abounding because of wicked leaders and that’s one of the reasons that the love of many is growing cold!
Author: Tom
Here to save the sheep!