If you have planted a church or pastor a church, maybe you’re the “new” pastor in town, you’ve probably been a victim of verbal vandalism.

Verbal vandalism is when someone unnecessarily talks smack about you, your church, etc.  It’s not uncommon, and that is why it’s such a problem.  People who call themselves “Christians” and “pastors” don’t see anything wrong with it.  Yikes.

I’ve endured my share of it being a 3-year-old church plant.  We’ve got all the normals; being called a cult, too far out, over the top, yada yada yada.  I once even got an anonymous email and was called a “church pirate”.  Yeah, that was fun.

Here’s a novel idea and challenge; if you’re a church planter/pastor and you hear another pastor talking smack or other Christian painting verbal graffiti about another church, ask them to stop.  Tell them you don’t believe it, even if you think it “might” be true.  Tell your staff to only talk good about other churches and pastors in your area.  Even if they verbally vandalize you.

So what do you think?  Have you been verbally vandalized?