Sunday my good friend Clayton preached for me. I haven’t heard the sermon yet, but they say he told a true story about me from my college days. Uh oh.
Actually, it’s a good story. It illustrates a core value that I’ve always tried to live by.
The short of it is: a little rumor started about Clayton when I was in college, and spread to a couple dozen people on my campus. Since Clayton was a national speaker (and still is), I was concerned about the effect this rumor (even though it was very mild… nothing extreme) would have on his ministry.
So I called him, made sure it wasn’t true, and then called a meeting of all the people who had been spreading the rumor or had heard the rumor.
My agenda was basically to tell everyone:
“Clayton is a man of God. When we pass along stupid rumors about a man of God, it hurts the work of God through his life. It’s apparent that you don’t know Clayton, and you don’t know what you’re talking about, so please shut up. God bless you, let’s pray… “

Ever since I gave my life to Christ as a 16 year old, I tried to remain devoutly committed to the sacred practice of keeping my mouth shut when presented with the opportunity to say something negative about someone God is using.
Even when the criticism is valid (because even the most anointed people stumble and fall), I see no value in spreading the criticism like gangrene.
Now, if I have a relationship of influence with the person, I do my best to talk with the person about the issue in a spirit of love and encouragement.
I’m not talking about sweeping stuff under the rug.
But if I can’t talk to the person, I’d rather pray for them than talk about them.
That’s just my philosophy. It has served me well. And it is thoroughly Biblical.

So, whether it’s how much Joyce Meyer’s jet cost, what cuss word Mark Driscoll said, or the dumb decision your pastor made last week, do yourself and the Kingdom of God a favor:

Speak truthfully, pray sincerely, and then practice the sacred act of shutting up.
After all:
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.