Okay. You’ve been there before. The choir just transported the worshippers through the gates of heaven with amazing worship. The atmosphere is charged with excitement and the mood is set, but the pastor is not on the same wavelength. The pastor gets up to preach and you can’t believe what just let fly out of his or her mouth. It is biblically inaccurate and those words are being used to manipulate the congregation to give more money.
Maybe you’ve been in this situation or another where a pastor is in error. You expect someone to say something but the whole church just “Amens” and agrees with him. It’s almost like you are an alien or you woke up in the “Twilight Zone”—cue the creepy music. Not only are the church members tolerant of the pastor and his or her antics but also there is no one from the broader leadership community calling the pastor out.
Pimppreacher.com
Enter pimppreacher.com, a site dedicated to reporting the moral and ethical failures of pastors. It is an online space where church members report the violations of their pastors. Many of these violations are not only against scripture but also against the law. While I don’t agree with all of the theology and opinions posted on pimppreacher.com it has provided a outlet for abused members to call their pastors out when other leaders neglect to do so.
Pimppreacher.com only posts articles on pastors who have not adhered to biblical standards 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9. They also steer clear of the pastor’s family. In my opinion a site like this is a godsend as it can warn the members of a pastor’s violations of the bible’s commands. It can also show the world that we in the church don’t tolerate hypocrisy and unethical practices.
In the Black Church it is popular to give leaders a free pass. Usually when someone dares to speak out against someone in ministry they are quick to hear “Touch not mine anointed” or “Don’t put your mouth on the man of God.” The idea is that God calls the preacher/pastor and therefore he is answerable only to God. Therefore there is no accountability between him/her and the congregation or other pastors.
Having been in the pastor role myself I believe that we should give pastors the respect they deserve because it is a tiresome and demanding job to shepherd a faith community. At the same time, I think that when the pastor breaks some of the standards for a Christian leader outlined in the New Testament (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) someone should call them to account for their actions.
But is it right for a pastor to let another pastor know when they are out of line? Is it right for church members to correct their pastor? Based on scriptural principles and examples the answer to both questions is an emphatic “Yes!” In regard to church members calling their leaders to account we can examine 1 Timothy 5:19-20. Here Paul lets Timothy know that he is not to receive an accusation against an elder unless two or three witnesses can support it. By stating how these accusations are to be received these verses assume that accusations can be brought against an elder or church leader.
In regard to pastors calling other pastors to account Paul provides an excellent example. When Peter shows prejudice against the Gentiles at Antioch, Paul rebukes him to his face Galatians 2:11-12. Paul went in on Peter in front of everyone! Paul was also vocal in calling out false teachers. He warns Timothy not to follow in the footsteps of Hymenaeus and Alexander in regards to his Christian faith 1 Timothy 1:19-20. Notice that he calls them out by name. Paul also calls out Hymenaeus and Philetus in 2 Timothy 2:17-18.
When leaders are out of line other leaders need to publicly let them know. When leaders are out of line their followers need to let them know. One thing that needs to be taken into consideration is whether the preachers have been given the opportunity to change. The site warns others of their faults and sins but is there a way to offer grace and restore these fallen pastors.
Another thing that we do not know is whether the church members have already addressed these issues with the pastor according to Matthew 18:15-17. Pimppreacher.com has taken it upon themselves to be an advocate for those who feel abused by their pastor but have the members themselves done the biblical thing and talked it out with the offenders. This would be the best way to handle these situations.
What do you think? Should pastors be held accountable by other pastors? Should pastors be held accountable by other members? Is a site like pimppreacher.com necessary?
We don’t do what we do for money or any type of reward other than contributing to a safer worship experience. This report on our grassroot movement has been better than $1 million dollars, because you guys captured our love and compassion for the Body of Christ. I am a Believer in Christ and felt that accountability should come from Christian followers of Christ – and not outsiders. We are cleaning up our own mess and making progress. Thank you Ramon Mayo for this post and recognizing that at the end of the day it is about protecting those who occupy the pews. If you ever need anything at all – please let us know. Many Thanks – TJ & The Church Folk Revolution – PimpPreacher.com
Thank you Ramon,
wonderful article…much appreciated. I look forward to learning more about urbanfaith.com!
There is nothing wrong with calling any believer to the “carpet”; what is written about rebuking a believer is not just for elders but all believers. No person is above correction is they are in error.
Yes pimppreacher.com is a Godsend for The Body of Christ! I , first visited the website of pimppreacher.com a little over a year & a half ago before this time I knew something just wasn’t right with about a church I had belonged to and churches I had visited in the hopes of finding a place of Worship for myself and family . I eventually gave up ! Every Sunday no matter where we went the topic was about getting rich or die trying mixed with scriptures… Or why your in trouble with God if your not a faithful tither or if your slack in your offerings unto The Lord ( pastor really). Ive seen marriages fall completely apart all in the name of Jesus . My husband and I barely got out of the church with our marriage and family intact! By the Grace of God… I , was faithful to the point I would not speak against the pastor I would not allow anyone to speak negative to me about a man of God fearing I would receive retribution from The Lord . I finally while on the internet came across a story about a pastor with a link pimppreacher.com I had the courage to click the link and read and I was in total shock after reading the article that actually had arrest and conviction reports about a pastor! From that point I read every story relating to unethical immoral greedy self centered pastors because I know the source is reliable and not just making stuff up…
As someone who is called to preach the gospel my heart goes out to those who have been abused by their leaders. I read some of the stories on pimppreacher.com and I want to cry. Thanks for spreading the word about those who are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Thanks so much for this article. We appreciate the acknowledgement and furthering the dialogue of this very serious community issue. It’s a COMMUNITY ISSUE and not something we do to hate on preachers.
Ms. Justice,
You are right. It’s a community issue. I am a preacher and that’s why I believe this site is valuable. Only a coward would sit back and watch his own people get abused and oppressed especially by those who say they are called to care for them
The modern day church (physical buildings and those with claims to be followers of Christ) has been filled with all sorts of false teachings and preachers/pastors/ministers and other leaders make themselves kings. I am thankful to have come across pimppreacher.com. I think that leaders who see these articles might be led to repentance when they are tempted or see some of the feedback from the articles. The modern “church” likes to blame separation of church and state, other religions, the secular (non-church) world and everyone but themselves for the reduction of believers, but it is clear with the abuses listed on pimppreacher, that much of the real problem is internal. Pimppreacher knows no racial boundaries as the churches of all races, ethnicities, all geographic regions are seeing the same moral ineptitude and false doctrines that are killing the church. Pimppreacher isn’t a revolution in it’s entirety, it is a revival of those who truly wish to serve and follow the teachings of Christ and the early church.
Angie,
I appreciate how you made it clear that the false doctrines and moral ineptitude are a widespread problem among all ethnicities. I think it is a symptom of some deeper issues within our American culture (consumerism, isolation) but ultimately it is the church’s responsibility to hold its leaders accountable for moral failings and false doctrine. Let the revival continue!
I know some pastors in my town that have been and still are despicable crooks since we were children. I spend a lot of time correcting what these people teach thank you pimp preacher
“We are cleaning up or own mess” The Revolution is well under way.
Modern Day 21st Century Prophets.
Continue to let Him use you.
– David Lee
the best