Why has the pulpit become a place to persecute people?
Read this from a post and it makes perfect sense. We have experienced this so many times in HOP and many other churches do this. It's time for this nonsense to stop.
I’ve heard too many stories of pastors using the pulpit to embarrass people, expose private situations, settle personal disagreements, and turn entire congregations against someone.
And I keep wondering…
When did preaching the gospel become publicly punishing people?
Because once you have the microphone, the title, and the trust of the room, you already have the advantage.
People are likely to believe your version before they ever hear the other person’s.
The person being discussed cannot interrupt you.
They cannot correct what is being said.
They cannot explain the context.
And if they try to defend themselves afterward, they risk being called rebellious, disrespectful, bitter, or divisive.
That is a dangerous amount of power to hold over someone’s reputation.
Especially when the people listening believe you are speaking on behalf of God.
The pulpit should not be a place where leaders hint at private conversations, describe people without saying their names, or preach “messages” aimed at one person while everybody else watches.
That is not accountability.
Accountability involves truth, fairness, conversation, and the opportunity to respond.
Public humiliation from a platform is something else.
It is using spiritual authority to control the narrative.
It is asking the congregation to judge someone based on one voice, one perspective, and one person’s interpretation of what happened.
And the damage does not always end when the sermon does.
People lose friendships.
Families become divided.
Reputations follow them into other churches.
And sometimes an entire community turns against someone who never had the same opportunity to tell their side.
The pulpit was never supposed to become a place where leaders settle scores with people who do not have equal power.
So I have to ask:
If the only way you can confront someone is from a platform where they cannot answer you, what does that say about your character?
Looks like hopcc has a new website at hopccwitness where they stood up a defense fund section looking to raise a million bucks. looks like they are the ones getting persecuted.