Introduction
The Christian world is muddled with stories of various leaders falling into the hands of sin, losing sight of their purpose, forgoing their calling, and ultimately destroying themselves. It is a dismal day when God’s men and women who have accomplished great things for the Kingdom fall. We become angry, disturbed, and disappointed. What should be our response, and how can we heal after the hurt? This discussion identifies that in midst of sin, God presents truth. Whoever the vessel, whatever the circumstance, God’s message of truth is absolute and changeless.
Exploring Sin
The Bible declares that God hates sin, “The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence” (Psalm 11:5). The recent discovery of sin uncovered in the behavior of famous Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias, is probably one of the most overwhelming cases of a Christian leader’s vulnerabilities. Hillsong Pastor, Carl Lentz, Hawk Nelson’s Jonathan Steingard, and mega-pastor and author, Joshua Harris, are among many other examples. So how can we classify sin and explain the actions of these prominent Christians?
The discourse on sin finds clarity with St. Mark’s analysis,
“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (7:20-23).
The Christian philosophy teaches that we are all sinners saved by grace, and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves because “goodness” is reserved only for the Father (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8; Mark 10:18). The Bible also says in Ecclesiastes 7:20, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” By this standard, it is realistic to expect people, regardless of who they are, to fall into sin.
However, an exciting truth that follows is the Biblical idea that those who make a practice of sinning reflect lawlessness, another facet of sin that presents itself as a lifestyle (1 John 3:4). The Bible says, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly” (Proverbs 26:11). Here is where we distinguish between sin as a momentary blunder and sin as a detrimental culture.
While we may have all fallen victim to either one or several of these acts identified by St. Mark, genuine repentance is about forgiveness with the intent to become restored once and for all. By contrast, a lifestyle of sin brings on the ruin of a Christian leader.
The Principle of Sanctification
Christ came to forgive sins. Forgiveness of sin was possible because of His death on the cross. Most vitally, the Gospel’s aim is sanctification; that forgiven people are made holy: moral, pure, and acceptable. Sanctification is not a transient but stable condition; it is not subject to defect or folly. There are no loopholes in the Gospel. A sanctified person controls inner desires and passions; he is a master of himself and a victor of sin. Sanctification, like sin, is an internal process, and hence, it offered the most adequate solution to evil.
Sanctification is only achievable with self-control, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). All people are subject to temptations; there is no extra power afforded to famed Christians to manage impulses more effectively than the average person. What we decide to do rests in our hearts’ ability, a deceitful and wicked organ if not subdued and made virtuous.
By this assessment, it can be argued that fallen Christian leaders are not only sinful but unsanctified, which allows repeated evil acts until people become destroyed. Sanctified leaders are not subject to a sinful reality.
Truth & Relevance
God ordains Christian leaders. The Bible says, “He brings down one and exalts another” (Psalm75:7). It is not merely human strength, skill, and ability that determines accomplishment; instead, God gives success. He sees and knows all; He humbles the proud, unrighteous, and unjust.
God will judge leaders with greater strictness (James 3:1). The Bible says, “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money” (1 Timothy 3:2-3). That God holds leaders accountable is unquestionable.
However, leaders are His instruments of truth. God instructs leaders, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The messages preached, songs sung, and work done by God’s leaders contain truth. The Gospel truth is not derived by men but is the ideals of God. Truth is absolute, regardless of the carriers.
Closely related to truth is the concept of relevance. The apostle Paul tells us, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Paul’s perspective harbors the position that while they represent truth, leaders must be fit to be effective: their actions must align with their words of truth. Truth is a lifestyle, not merely a message.
For this reason, many fallen Christian leaders are disregarded, insulted, and forgotten. Sadly, while their truth holds, their influence, impact, and relevance diminish.
How should we respond?
Express your emotions
Our human nature prompts us to be disappointed, sad, angry, disturbed and shocked when leaders fall. This is the ugly effect of sin. The Bible tells us Christ Himself was moved to anger and sadness because of sin (Mark 3:5). Recognizing and assessing our emotions is the first step to our healing.
Have compassion for the hurt
We must have compassion for those most affected by a leader’s indiscretions. Christians must be fair and honest by calling out wrong behavior and supporting the hurt with love, care, and concern.
Pray for leaders
Christians must pray for their leaders. The Bible urges us to pray for all who are in high positions (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Today, Christian leaders are challenged to a higher moral standard in a world of dying integrity. The devil seeks first to destroy his most formidable adversaries, Christian leaders, and disciples. Christ commands us, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
Trust in God
Put your wholehearted trust in God, not in people. People are imperfect and subject to error. While we admire, respect, and honor our leaders, we should not place our confidence in humanity. The Bible advises us to reserve our unconditional trust for God, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Psalm 118:8).
Be accountable
Narratives of fallen soldiers must remind us of the importance of accountability. The Bible says, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required” (Luke 12:48). Knowing and understanding the role and expectations of Christian leadership is critical in contemporary society.
Rest Assured
Christians must know that nothing takes God by surprise. He knows the weaknesses of man, but he also knows man’s capability through His power. God used David, who committed adultery and murder, Rahab, who was a prostitute, Peter, who denied Christ, and Judas, who betrayed Him. He will accomplish His purpose in His Way. Do not be dismayed, He promises to strengthen, help, and uphold us with His victorious right hand (Isaiah 41:10). Continue to be a light in our dark world.
Conclusion
When soldiers fall, the ground shakes, but it is never broken. The Bible tells us that the gates of hell shall never overcome Christ’s church (Matthew 6:18). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s truth, though the messenger sways, the message stays. Heal after hurt, knowing that God has overcome this world’s most significant battles, and our hope is in the excellence of heaven.
