The Failure of Christian Leaders Should Not Shake Your Faith

There have been multiple pastors in the news lately for issues of moral failure. The one that seems to have hit people the hardest in my online circles is Steve Lawson. I write this post as someone who has never read his books or heard him preach. I only know who he is because of the hilarious Kuiper Belt Production – Reformed Funny Moments videos on CensorTube.

I’ve had two pastors in my life wreck their ministry over serious, grievous sin. In both cases, it was after I had stopped attending the church where they pastored. So I have not dealt with this type of situation in person and in real time. But they were both pastors who had a positive impact on my faith. In both cases, it was a bit shocking but also (upon reflection) not shocking.

I watched what the Vision Forum debacle did to hundreds (if not thousands) of Christian families years ago. To this day, I continue to discover people I knew or knew of online who were wrecked by that. To this day, I deal with fallout from the hyper-patriarchy movement in my circles.

I’ve shared the story of the spiritual abuse David and I experienced when we met.

I write all this because what I’m about to say might sound harsh or unloving to some. But it’s not harsh. It’s an acknowledgement of hard-earned truth.

I put no man or woman on a pedestal, including those who are in any form of Christian ministry. It’s a lesson every Christian needs to learn and it’s usually a painful one.

If you are devastated by the sin and wreckage of a person in ministry (especially someone you don’t personally know), then I encourage you to reconsider the importance you have given to other mere humans in your life.

No one should hold so much significance in your life and be held in such high esteem that his/her failure causes you to become overwhelmed with grief.

No one should hold so much significance in your life and be held in such high esteem that his/her failure causes you to feel the need to protect his/her reputation online.

No one should hold so much significance in your life and be held in such high esteem that his/her failure causes you to question your faith.

Especially that last one.

Part of the problem we have right now is the church the Lord Jesus gave us in the New Testament is not what is operating around us today.

The church was never intended to be a huge gathering of thousands of people in multiple services (let alone on multiple campuses with holograms).

The church was never intended to be led by men who don’t personally know the individual members of their flock.

The church was never intended to spawn a cult of personality around men (or women) who are gifted speakers and work outside of their church circle as much or more than they are at home.

As long as the body of Christ continues to elevate men (and women) in these ways, these problems will continue to devastate churches and people.

The cult of personality is a true problem in the American church. It creates disciples who are more committed to their favorite teacher than they are to Jesus. It takes the focus off Jesus and puts it on the person who can most effectively discuss hot and timely topics related to Jesus. It has allowed gifted and smooth-talking wolves to come in and ravage the sheep with lies and deception.

It allows Christians to clearly see the warning signs and either ignore them or downplay them as was apparently the case with Steve Lawson.

It should not be so.

The real takeaway from Christian leaders failing is to remind ourselves again of the importance of guarding our own faith. Every day.

To recognize again that any of us can be led astray if we take our eyes off Jesus.

Every significant moral failure starts with one poor choice.

Photo credit