Over the years, I've seen multiple examples of a behavior that is highly detrimental to the one practicing it. Just recently, it's been used at least twice against me, and in hopes of helping bring into the light what these people obviously do not realize is really going on, and in hopes of preserving future friendships, I'm writing this post.
The behavior is making a video where you are arguing against what someone teaches or does indirectly without having first had a conversation with them directly. Interestingly, it's always the case that when someone does this, they seem to be arguing that what the person said or did was wrong. What they are actually attempting to do is soothe the guilt they feel about who and how they themselves are as a result of what was taught or done by the other. The reaction is not about what it seems, and doesn't address the underlying problem. It's an attempt to make a symptom of the problem go away, but it doesn't address the disease itself.
The reason people do this sort of behind-the-back pushback instead of contending with the person directly is to avoid the counterarguments they expect to get and which they do not think they can contend with. That is what trust in God requires:
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (Matthew 18:15)
If you don't have sufficient arguments, you are obligated by honesty to accept what you are being told. This is the actual problem: the person does not want to change to align with the particular truth that offended them, and instead of doing so, is choosing to act in ways they hope will make it go away.
If we trust God, we trust that whatever is more true than what we currently believe draws us nearer to him and is better than any alternative. We are obligated to accept what has the strongest reasons, even if it makes us feel bad, and maybe especially if it does. Continuing to kick against the truth will always make you feel worse in the long-term, no matter how good you feel in the short term. And it will probably cost you a friend that is measurably more valuable to you than any of your other friends--none of whom loved you enough to learn and tell you the truth. It isn't that the teacher will go away, but in almost every case, you will find that your attempted work around for repentance failed to make you feel better, and you will end up cutting that person out of your life so you don't have to feel guilty about knowing you are wrong. If human casualties were the only downside of this path, it would be bad enough, but it gets worse.
It's comforting to assume that how we treat human sources of information we don't want to hear differs from how we react to the same from God. It's not different. It's always the same. These temporal reactions are obvious outward hallmarks of the hidden inward motives.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45)
The most valuable friend you can have is the one who can correct you the most. The best friend you can have is God. As long as you respond to correction with offense, you can rest assured that you have distanced yourself from him at least as much as you would any human. You will distance yourself from him every time he tells you how you can be better instead of contending with him face to face and talking through it, as the scriptures indicate we should:
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 1)
To become a friend of God, you must learn to value truth more than you value your self-identity. The path to God includes seeing your weakness.
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. (Ether 12:27)
The path to God includes letting go of who you are in favor of who you can be with and in God.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:25)
Whatever God has for us is always better than what he asks us to leave behind. Trust him.