Christians Debating and Slandering on Social Media 'Is Not Biblical,' Says Misfits Pastor

Christians of different denominations and backgrounds frequently take to social media to debate over theology and criticize pastors and leaders they do not agree with.

Pastor Chris Durso of Christ Tabernacle Church of Queens, New York, blasted the practice during a previous interview with The Christian Post while discussing some of the criticism he has received over the Internet about the way he does ministry.

"I get tons of mean tweets and Instagram posts, and the thing that kills me the most is that none of that is biblical, and none of that is responding or acting in love like the Bible tells us to do," Durso told CP. "The irony of somebody ridiculing me with such anger and disrespect blows my mind."

Durso hosts the annual youth and young adults Misfits conference in New York City. The event uses Christian and secular hip-hop to engage youth. And although the music genre has become even more accepted in the church recently, with artists such as Lecrae hosting the GMA Dove Awards this year, some still criticize rap due to its association with sinful lifestyles.

Durso feels believers who criticize each other over social media are doing themselves and the body a disservice and should approach one another privately as the Bible instructs in Matthew 18:15.

"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over." Matthew 18:15 (NIV).

"[These believers] are contradicting themselves [by calling something sin on social media]," he continued. "No. Their approach is actually a sin and the Bible talks a lot more about that than any of the stuff that you're accusing me of. The people that write the blogs and the tweets, it's really not biblical."

"I don't know where Christians got this idea that using social media as a platform to debate was OK," he said. "How do I deal with them? I don't. I love on them."