Marsha's Musings: Accusations Against Elders (1 Timothy 5:19-22 NASB)

Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. (1 Timothy 5:19-22 NASB)

Verse 19 is serious stuff.  I think we would all do well to heed it.  But the question must be asked. What is a witness?

In a court of law a witness is one who was present at the time of the event in question happened and saw it go down.

So if someone says the pastor slandered them, but there is no one who actually saw it happen or witnessed it, then this passage says we should not entertain the accusation against him.

Too often when people become disgruntled with the pastor, they will go around telling others that he offended them in some way and then gain a following of people who take up their offence and try to act as witnesses for the offended party. So we should ask, "Were you present or is this hear say?"  Often it's hear say.

People need to look at the pastor's track record of integrity as well as the offended party's track record.  Who do you trust the most based on that?