Please note: This article contains mentions of sexual assault, child abuse, and vulnerable adult abuse.
When believers speak out against false teachers and abusers, a common negative response from the Body is, “Gossip is a sin.” Accusations of related sins like slander and divisiveness usually follow.
Matthew 18 is also commonly misapplied as a way to shut down survivors and truth-tellers when it has nothing to do with false teachers and is not safe for survivors to apply to situations of abuse.
Prominent fallen leaders have set a precedent for overall misapplication of Scripture (and DARVO) in order to control the narrative after reports of their misconduct have become public. For example:
- When accused of abuse by multiple survivors, Sean Feucht called their statements “defamatory” and a “smear campaign.”
- Johnny Hunt filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against the SBC due to his reputation being ruined after they released an investigation report detailing his sexual assault of a young woman.
- Stovall Weems (once a mentor of Steven Furtick) has been involved in multiple lawsuits, including one he filed for defamation, after an investigation report revealed his abusive behavior. He called it a “character assassination” and believes it was all a “conspiracy” by his network to remove him from leadership.
Amidst all the confusion, it is important to know: What truly is gossip, what does the Bible say about it, and how do we discern between gossip and an uncomfortable truth that is scripturally mandatory to tell?
The Definition of “Gossip”
To first understand the English definition, let’s look at the etymology (from etymonline.com):
Merriam-Webster gives the following definition: “a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others” and “rumor or report of an intimate nature.”
“Gossip” in the Bible
There are a few different words used in Scripture to discuss gossip:
“Nirgan”
Hebrew for “slanderer, talebearer, whisperer.” (Proverbs 16:28, 18:8, 26:20, 26:22)
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28 NIV).
“Rakil”
Hebrew for “talebearer, slanderer, gossip” and “scandal-monger.” (Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 11:13, 20:19; Jeremiah 6:28, 9:4; Ezekiel 22:9)
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:13).
Note: “Secret” = “sod” in Hebrew, which relates to intimate conversations or counsel, as with close friends.
“Psithurismos”
Greek for “whispering, gossip, secret slander.”
From HELPS Word-studies: “a whispering to ‘quietly’ spread malicious gossip; “whispering” that launches ‘secret attacks on a person’s character’ (Souter)… an onomatopoetic word for the sibilant murmur of a snake charmer.”
“For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be… I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder” (2 Corinthians 12:20).
In summary: Gossip is used maliciously and often covertly in order to cause division—to ruin relationships and reputations. It could be done by lying (slander), or revealing intimate details about a person’s life that were told in confidence between close friends (e.g. financial or familial struggles). This usually causes public embarrassment.
Gossip vs. Accountability
Scripture emphasizes the importance of spiritual leaders leading lives that are above reproach in all aspects (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, James 3:1). It also contains sobering warnings and commands to identify and expose evil, including when these requirements are not met:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:15-16a).
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light” (Ephesians 5:11-13).
An underutilized verse is 1 Timothy 5:19-20: “Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.”
The ESV has a harsher tone in verse 20: “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.”
In the case of false teaching and other disqualifying behavior, Paul states to not take one person’s word for it, but to confirm it among other believers (This does not mean to delay the reporting of a crime. More on this in the following section.). Willful, unrepentant sin of a leader must be called out in order to protect those potentially and currently affected, and prevent others from following suit.
What is the Motivation?
The heart of truth-telling, though, should be out of care and responsibility, which has its foundation in love.
In the case of spiritual leaders committing crimes, we have to remember Romans 13:1, which tells us to “be subject to the governing authorities.” This is especially important when it comes to child or vulnerable adult abuse—which are in some states required to be reported by clergy (and in some cases, church staff as well) if they are mandated reporters. There is still work to be done for adult clergy sexual abuse (ACSA) to be recognized as a crime so it can be treated as the severe violation is truly is, and not brushed off as an “affair” by corrupt leaders.
For legal but disqualifying acts, we still have a responsibility to speak up to protect our brothers and sisters from experiencing the same pain we did, because our love for them overflows from our love for God.
When writing to the Ephesians, Paul says in chapter four:
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (vv. 14-16).
Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 13 that he is nothing without love, despite his great works.
Love Warns
False teachers and abusers are the ones who cause division, not the people bold enough to identify it and call it out for others to take heed. This is what it means to bring darkness to light. When this is done, it must not be out of selfish ambition, but out of great love for the Lord and His Bride.
Survivors have nothing to gain by publicly accusing their abusers. Usually, it is the opposite, having already lost a great deal before getting to the point of announcing it publicly. It is common for survivors to say, “If my story can help just one person, it will be worth sharing.”
While some members of the Body may wrongfully seek popularity by making sensational allegations of false teaching, this does not mean we should write off genuine truth-tellers without first hearing their heart and their biblical evidence. With discernment, their motivations will be obvious. Like Jesus said in Matthew 7 about false prophets:
“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (vv. 16-20).
Believing survivors can change the trajectory of their healing journeys. Heeding warnings about false teachers from discerning brothers and sisters protects us from spiritual harm.
Is it comfortable? No. Is it worth it? Absolutely.