This is as good a place as any to make note of the fact that public controversy is not bound by the rules of confrontation laid out for us in Matthew 18. When Peter sinned at Antioch, Paul rebuked him publicly, face to face (Gal. 2:11), and he did this on the spot. It is not necessary to take someone aside privately after they have just done something publicly. I do not know how many times I have been asked about this. Let’s say I have written critically of a recently published book — ‘Did you contact Tony Campolo privately before you wrote the book review?’
Douglas Wilson