# Ep. 330: When pastors should or should not defend themselves

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/trench-talk-4428/ep-330-when-pastors-should-or-should-not-defend-themselves
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/trench-talk-4428/ep-330-when-pastors-should-or-should-not-defend-themselves.md
Podcast: [Trench Talk](https://stenobird.com/podcast/trench-talk-4428)
Published: 2026-07-14T15:56:18+00:00
Episode link: https://practicalshepherding.com/trenchtalk/330
Audio file: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d93a9a2d9f11575968dc322/t/6a565cd13f0e622e4d323bdc/1784044757802/330_When+pastors+should+or+should+not+defend+themselves-esv2-70p-bg-8p-music-10p.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/trench-talk-4428/episodes/ep-330-when-pastors-should-or-should-not-defend-themselves
Duration seconds: 2096

## Resource

Contact us. We’d love to serve you Request a stay at a Shepherd’s House Location Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Find out more about the Advancing the Church Equip Conference taking place September 10-11, 2026 in New Albany, IN. (01:45) Biblical Framework: when should/shouldn’t pastors defend themselves? (03:40) Biblical tension: Jesus’ silence vs. Paul’s self-defense; key NT texts (06:55) Proposed “template”: personal slights vs. ministerial slander; online smear story (09:35) Important caveat: abuse, real guilt, and not helping guilty pastors “defend” themselves (10:28) Clear cases to defend: disqualifying accusations (false romantic relationship story) (13:09) Private vs. public accusations; defending against allegations of illegal activity (15:05) Accusations of heresy and doctrinal error; how and why to respond (19:18) How to defend without being defensive: tone, frequency, and using elders/outside counsel (23:26) When not to defend: social media critique (“cesspool of wokeness”) and letting it go (25:39) Critiques of preaching style/length and why not to publicly “answer from the pulpit” (28:23) Lifestyle criticisms: vacations, cars, “nice things,” and unnecessary self-justification (31:10) Vacation time example: fear of criticism and the paralysis of people-pleasing (33:21) Don’t chase gossip; when silence is wiser than trying to correct every rumor (34:12) Final counsel: humility, prayer, seeking counsel; closing prayer

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## Transcript

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