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(This is an ongoing series. Check out part one here.)
In the last decade, a number of celebrity pastors and teachers have either fallen into sin or have adopted such strange theology that they’re almost impossible to listen to. By the time we notice it, we are confronted with something major like adultery or a really “out there” sermon clip. However, we all know that sin and bad teaching isn’t an instant moment, but a long series of steps and compromises. We see their destination, but we also know they went on a journey to get to the point where they’ve disqualified themselves from representing Christ.
While we may never fully understand how each person reaches this point, I suspect it often boils down to one thing: they never listened to someone telling them “no.”
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:6)
As sinners, we’re all like kites. We want to soar away, being tossed around by every desire or weird idea that pops into our heads. In this metaphor, Christ is the one on the ground who should be controlling where we go – He is the one who keeps us grounded in truth. But how do we, as wayward kites, stay connected to our Savior? By a string.
There are many things in our lives God uses to correct our wanderings from Christ. God’s word, the Holy Spirit, and our consciences often play major roles in keeping us from wandering. However, another important “string” in our lives are the faithful followers of Jesus Christ who surround us. They can offer us wisdom from their own experience, challenge us in our error, and lovingly show us the truth when we need it most.
For most of us, God keeps us humble enough to accept the corrections we need and keep returning us to Christ. But what happens when we don’t want that pesky string to keep us from flying away? What do we so often see in our own lives when we want to wallow in our sin and not have our wickedness exposed by Christ?
We flee from anything that would tell us “no.”
And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)
for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. (Ephesians 5:8-13)
When we want to follow after our Savior and pursue holiness through Him, we want to surround ourselves with people who will push us in that direction, and we want to remove anything that would stand in the way of our desire for Christ.
When we want to follow after our sin and pursue the pleasure it promises, we want to surround ourselves with people who will push us in that direction, and we want to remove anything that would stand in the way of our desire for sin.
Reading the report of Ravi Zacharias shows similar signs of what we see in other teachers and pastors because it’s so similar to our own pursuit of sin. When we want to live in sin, we will cut ourselves off from God’s word, suppress the Holy Spirit as He fans the flame of our conscience, and distance ourselves from other Christians who might tell us no.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 13:14)
The pattern is the same because the pursuit of sin is predictable. If we want darkness, we hide from the light. We cut ourselves off from those who would tell us “no,” and instead only listen to those who will tell us exactly what we want to hear. We set ourselves up for success in our sin by creating an environment that doesn’t stop us.
This is why Christian fellowship is so important for our spiritual health. In love, we are meant to challenge and encourage one another. We are meant to set aside our pride by listening to the words of those who love us. It doesn’t mean we must always agree with that correction, but the difficult words of a friend should cause us to reflect on what we’re pursuing and whether we’re staying grounded in Jesus Christ.
So often, when pastors and teachers fall into sin and error, we can find that they distanced themselves from the Bible, their conscience, and anyone who would tell them “no.”
