A courtroom doesn’t convict on rumor. And praise God that’s true. It requires evidence, witnesses, and due process because a person’s life and reputation hang in the balance. If we get it wrong, either the guilty walk free or the innocent are destroyed.

Apostle Paul holds the church to that same standard when it comes to pastors. In 1 Timothy 5:19-21, he instructs Timothy not to entertain an accusation against an elder unless confirmed by two or three witnesses (v19). That standard protects leaders from bogus claims or somebody with a bad agenda. Churches would not only be wise to adopt this standard but should be eager to do so out of obedience to the word of God.

The devil would love to take out your pastor. And when he can’t do it through personal compromise, he’s happy to incite some false accuser against him. Your pastor must be protected from these schemes, and this standard does so.

However, if sin is proven, it must be rebuked publicly, “so that the rest may stand in fear of sin” (v.20). The pastor’s reprimand is not only good for him. It’s good for the whole church. It’s the congregation’s warning of the sinfulness of sin.

Then Paul raises the stakes further, calling us to do so without favoritism and prejudgment (v21). No accusation is above scrutiny, all are innocent until proven guilty, and no pastor is above correction.

How are you protecting your pastor? Work to protect him from false claims, but also, if the claims are true, protect him from sin by disciplining him.

Change begins in you!