What Should I Do When I Hear Accusations About a Congregation or Preacher?

Christians are called to be people of truth, not rumor.

Labeling is everywhere right now.

We hear things like, “They’ve gone liberal.”
Or, “That preacher is a false teacher.”
Or, “There are uncertain sounds coming from that pulpit.”

In many cases, these comments travel faster than facts. A few loud voices fuel suspicion, and others repeat what they’ve heard without stopping to ask basic questions.

To be clear, some concern is legitimate. Scripture warns us that some will depart from the truth (Acts 20:29–30; 2 Timothy 4:3–4). Some congregations drift. Some teachers do abandon sound doctrine. Discernment matters, and pretending error does not exist helps no one.

And there is equal danger we must name honestly.

Much of what gets passed around today is misinformation. People speak confidently about things they have not verified. Labels get attached without evidence. Reputations are harmed without firsthand knowledge. And once a label sticks, it is rarely examined again.

Scripture warns us about this as well.

“Anyone who answers before he listens is foolish and shameful” (Proverbs 18:13).
“The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him” (Proverbs 18:17).

Before repeating anything derogatory or suspicious, we need to slow down and ask careful questions.

First, ask the person sharing the information whether they have actually spoken to the preacher or leaders involved. Not heard about them. Not heard from someone else. Spoken to them directly.

This is not a new principle. It is the biblical pattern.

When Priscilla and Aquila realized that Apollos was teaching inaccurately, Luke tells us they “took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Notice what they did not do. They did not go public. They did not question his motives. They did not stir suspicion about his character or abilities. They cared enough about Apollos as a man, a brother, and a leader to address the issue privately and personally.

Jesus established the same approach in Matthew 18:15: concerns are to be handled face to face, not from a distance or through rumor. Private correction protects truth without destroying trust.

Second, ask whether the information being shared is actually verified. Paul instructed Christians to “test all things” and “hold on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Testing requires evidence, not impressions or assumptions.

Third, ask whether the person has taken the time to listen to the teaching in question themselves. In a time when sermons are streamed and lessons are archived, repeating hearsay is rarely unavoidable.

If the answer to these questions is no, then what is being shared is not discernment. It is speculation.

Paul warned Timothy about this very behavior. He described it as “evil suspicions” that grow out of pride and ignorance (1 Timothy 6:4). Assuming the worst about others without knowledge does not guard the church. It corrodes it.

There is also a responsibility we often avoid.

When someone repeats unverified accusations, it is not enough to simply refuse to pass them along. At times, we must kindly but firmly admonish the person speaking. Talebearing and gossip are not harmless habits. They are sin.

Scripture is blunt. God hates the stirring up of division among His people (Proverbs 6:16–19). Paul warned that gossip, slander, and divisiveness destroy fellowship and belong to the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21). He instructed Christians to warn those who persist in divisive behavior and, if they refuse correction, to stop enabling them (Titus 3:10–11).

Repeating rumors about congregations or preachers without knowledge is not discernment. It is talebearing. And talebearing rips at the fabric of the church Christ died to build.

Sometimes the most faithful response is to stop the conversation and say, kindly but firmly, “This is not right.” Call the person to correct their speech. Call them to repentance. Not harshly. Not self-righteously. But clearly.

This takes courage. It is easier to stay silent or nod along. But silence often enables sin to continue. Faithfulness sometimes means risking discomfort for the sake of unity and truth.

In fact, this may be the most effective way to stop gossip and rumor-mongering in its tracks. When talebearing is no longer entertained, it loses its power. When division is no longer rewarded with attention, it begins to die.

There is also a simple, searching principle we cannot ignore. Jesus said, “Whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them” (Matthew 7:12).

Ask yourself an honest question. If someone had concerns about your preaching, your congregation, or your judgment, how would you want them to proceed? Would you want labels attached to your name before anyone spoke to you? Would you want rumors circulating without explanation or opportunity for clarification? Or would you want someone to care enough to come to you directly, listen carefully, and speak honestly?

Most of us already know the answer.

Christians are called to be people of truth, not rumor. Our speech is to build up, not tear down (Ephesians 4:29). We are commanded to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). Those commands apply just as much to theological conversations as they do to personal ones.

A Final Word

A church culture driven by suspicion will eventually turn on itself. When rumor replaces verification, and labels replace listening, trust erodes. Fellowship weakens. Faithful men grow weary. And the mission of the church suffers.

Guarding the truth does not require careless accusations. Standing for sound doctrine does not excuse reckless speech. If we truly love the church, we will refuse to repeat what we have not verified. If we truly care about truth, we will be disciplined enough to listen before we speak and courageous enough to stop gossip when we hear it.

Not every concern is wrong. But careless accusations are. Before you repeat something, verify it. Before you label someone, listen to them. Before you pass judgment, be sure you know the facts.

The church does not need more suspicion. It needs truth handled with care, correction guided by love, and believers who fear God more than they fear being naïve.

That is how the truth is protected.