CHRISTIAN LEADER NAME CALLING

For the Sake of the Holy Fear of the Lord:

A Teaching for the Ephesians 4 Community

Rebuilding Respect in the Body of Christ in the Public Realm

(C)2025 Taveau D’Arcy all copyrights reserved under international copyright laws in conjunction with AI

“Let there be peace on earth,

but let it begin with me”

Middle School Chorus Song Way Back in the Day

 

In these last days, as the world grows increasingly skeptical of institutional religion and spiritually traumatized people search for real answers, the Body of Christ is called to represent Jesus more clearly, more truthfully, and more compassionately. This is not a time to destroy our witness by misusing media, pulpits, and platforms to publicly shame, name-call, and accuse other Christian leaders. It’s a time for holy fear, personal accountability, and a return to biblical maturity.

The Call of the Ephesians 4 Church: Unity, Maturity, and Christlikeness

The apostolic blueprint for healthy ministry is laid out in Ephesians 4:11–16. God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to:

• Equip the saints for the work of ministry

• Build up the body of Christ

• Bring us into unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God

• Help us mature in character

• Prevent us from being tossed about by every wind of doctrine

Yet what we see today—especially on YouTube, social media, and even local pulpits—is the exact opposite. Instead of unity, we see accusation. Instead of maturity, we see immaturity. Instead of representing Jesus in holiness and humility, we see name-calling, finger-pointing, and the public dragging of other Christians.

This is not the spirit of Christ. It is the spirit of reviling, and the Bible warns strongly against it

The Danger of Reviling and Public Slander

2 Peter 2:10 warns us about those who “despise authority, presumptuous and self-willed… not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.”
Jude 1:9-10 notes that even Michael the Archangel did not bring a slanderous accusation against Satan, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
Titus 3:2 tells us to speak evil of no one, be peaceable and gentle, showing true humility toward all men.
Proverbs 6:16-19 lists six things the Lord hates—and one of them is the person who sows discord among brethren.

What does this mean? It means that to publicly name, shame, call out, and accuse other believers—especially from a place of pride or doctrinal rigidity—is a violation of the holy fear of God.

This is not a call to excuse false teaching. It is a call to handle differences in Christlike ways that preserve honor, truth, and restoration

Who Are We Representing?

To young people, unbelievers, and the public realm, many Christians look divided, bitter, and hypocritical. When they see us fight over theology, mock spiritual gifts, or attack women in ministry, they are turned off by our behavior, not drawn to Christ.

We forget the command of John 13:35:

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

When we publicly name-drop pastors, label them “false teachers,” or accuse others of being witches or wolves, we violate this love. And we become a stumbling block to those who might be searching for hope.

Let us ask ourselves this:
Are we using our platforms to protect God’s people—or to puff ourselves up as the only ones who are “right”?

What Do We Do Instead?

1. Restore Biblical Confrontation (Matthew 18:15–17)

Jesus taught us to first go privately to a brother or sister in sin—not to YouTube, Instagram, or the local mic. The goal is restoration, not revenge.

2. Judge Fruit, Not Motives (Matthew 7:15–20)

We are allowed to assess fruit, but we are not permitted to judge intentions or hearts. Only God knows the heart.

3. Address Doctrine, Not Individuals (2 Timothy 2:24–26)

Teach truth without quarrels, correcting those in error with gentleness, in hopes God will grant them repentance.

4. Stay Off the Throne (Romans 14:4)

“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.”
You are not the final authority. God is.

5. Return to Holy Fear (Hebrews 12:28–29)

Let us worship God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire. When we attack those He may have called—without understanding—we risk touching what we do not fully comprehend.

To Leaders and Ministers: Model Maturity

We need leaders who won’t model divisiveness, elitism, or suspicion, but wisdom, discernment, and love. When we preach and post, we must ask:

• Does this build the Church or divide it?

• Does this represent the grace and truth of Jesus—or just my offense?

• Am I handling this in a way I’d want Jesus to handle me?

Let Us Train Our Churches Differently

We must disciple our flocks to recognize the danger of immature, zealous accusation—often coming from young believers, untaught minds, or frustrated people who’ve seen excess. But reacting to error with harshness and public dishonor is not the Christlike response.

We need to teach discernment, expose prideful religiosity, and encourage fear of the Lord over fear of man. We must prepare the Church to walk in both grace and truth—not a spirit of fault-finding.

Final Word: Let Christ Be the Center Again

The Church doesn’t need more tabloid prophets or scandal-seeking evangelists. It needs servants, listeners, and bridge-builders—those who reflect the beauty, compassion, and holy fear of Jesus.

As it says in 1 Peter 4:8,

“Above all things, have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Selah. Let the Holy Spirit Deal with Us.

Let us repent of using pulpits to elevate self and tear down others. Let us become ministers of reconciliation, not agents of division.

We are stewards of a holy calling. May we handle it with fear and trembling—and may our generation see Christ in us, the hope of glory.

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