When Should We Speak Publicly?

Why truth must never be carried on the tongue of gossip

If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.

Matthew 18:15

Yesterday I shared how Jesus teaches us to handle conflict: when a brother sins against you, go to him privately. Some thoughtful feedback came in reminding me that Matthew 18:15 is speaking specifically about brother-to-brother sin. That is true, and we must always be careful not to lift passages out of context.

But we must also not miss the higher principle Jesus is giving us. His words describe the spirit of life together in the church: disciples of Christ talk to one another directly, humbly, and with love. “Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

Even when the issue is not strictly one of “you sinned against me,” the way of Jesus still leans toward humble, direct, gracious communication. “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). “Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit” (Galatians 6:1).

Sometimes matters must be addressed publicly. Paul confronting Peter in Antioch is the obvious example (Galatians 2:11–14). The issue was public, and it endangered the gospel itself. But even there, Paul didn’t talk around Peter—he talked to him. The correction was direct, not whispered, and it was aimed at restoration, not destruction.

The danger I see in our present moment is not that people are hiding behind Matthew 18 to avoid accountability, but rather that we often bypass it entirely. Instead of first seeking understanding, we go straight to public reaction. Instead of clarifying, we assume. Instead of reaching out in love, we write each other off. And the body of Christ suffers for it.

Let we forget: gossip, even “in the name of truth,” is just as sinful as unsound doctrinal teaching. Talebearing, slander, and calling other congregations to “warn” about a brother or another congregation is not our calling. That spirit tears down rather than builds up. “Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who speaks against a brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it” (James 4:11).

So yes, Matthew 18:15 is about personal offense. But its principle still speaks into all our interactions: we value the brother more than the argument, and we seek understanding before correction.

There will be times when wisdom calls for public response. But the heart of Christ calls us to rise higher than echo chambers and rehearsed talking points. Whether in private or public, our words must reflect love, humility, and the hope of winning a brother. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person” (Colossians 4:6).

That’s the balance we need today: a commitment to truth, yes, but carried in the spirit of the Shepherd who came not to condemn but to save (John 3:17).