Pastors have a high responsibility to teach the truth, but they also need to be able to learn and grow without having to worry about someone sharing their mistakes online. Wax writes about young pastors especially: “I shudder for the 20-something just learning to preach, knowing that any potential misstep, bad analogy, or aberrant theological point could be taken from a sermon and broadcast to thousands of people as an example of ‘what not to do.’”

I’ve heard pastors say something along these lines in their opening prayer in preparation for their sermon: “Lord, please help me to speak the truth, and may anything I say that isn’t in accordance with your Word be quickly forgotten.” They aren’t planning to say anything unbiblical, but they recognize that it could happen accidentally. That attitude demonstrates the fear and humility before God that we should want from pastors. But the Internet is forever. Nothing online can be quickly forgotten.