By Robin Sam
ON May 19 this year, Ravi Zacharias the famous Christian apologist died of cancer. When I heard he had died, personally, I was upset. I got to know the man through his books and messages that I mostly dug up from YouTube. Every time I heard his messages I marveled at his eloquence and brilliance in Christian apologetics. To many Christians like me, he was this man from Chennai who grew up in Delhi and made it big in the evangelistic circles worldwide. But today, I am even more upset that another Christian leader has been discovered with feet of clay although 4 months after his death.
Recently, Christianity Today published an in-depth report on allegations of sexual misconduct by popular apologist Ravi Zacharias. According to the story, he had sexually harassed three women massage therapists who worked at a spa centre he co-owned and solicited explicit photos from them.
Meanwhile, an individual exposed on Twitter some Scripture Union India staffers who had engaged in inappropriate behavior with minor girls whom they had met at VBS meetings. Apparently, this has been happening for several years and some of the affected girls who are grown up women are coming out in the open.
The Christian Messenger has spoken to the whistleblower, SU leaders and some of the victims. The articles are available on our website.
RZIM and SU india promptly announced they had ordered an investigation into the allegations. While the truth is yet to come out, there are those in the Christian community who think we should not be speaking ill of the dead especially because he was once used by the Lord. I want to address that issue.
The God of the Bible who called King David the man after His own heart did not sweep his affair with Bathsheba under the carpet. The Bible records that Gideon who was a mighty man of God indeed had many wives. The God of the Bible is a God who fixes broken lives. The second argument raised by some against talking about Christian leader’s misdemeanors is that it sullies the glory of God. I want to tell you something. The glory of God is not a patchwork of your multi color rags to be sullied. Nothing and no one can sully the glory of God. What is dimmed is the ring light of halo that you and I have given some leaders. When a Christian leader’s misdemeanors come to light what is burst is the bubble of halo around their heads created by us.
So, these things need to be reported, investigated and discussed. We do this not to bring down a person or an organization. We do this so we all learn from it.
There are three things that we need to bear in mind when we talk about sexual sin.
1. Sexual sin is unique
In I Corinthians 6:18, Apostle says this: Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? In other words, while murderer who kills another person can only kill the body a sexual offender sins not only against his body and the victim’s body but also causes untold misery to the spirit of the offended person.
2. Flee sexual immorality
In the same verse, Paul asks us to flee sexual immorality. How can you do that? James 4:7 asks us to stand firm against temptation. Resist the devil and he will flee from you, it says. If we have sinned, the Bible asks us to confess it and seek God’s forgiveness. James 5:16 says: Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. After receiving God’s forgiveness, how do we ensure we don’t fall into the same sin again? Turn to the Word of God. God’s truth is our buckler and shield, says Psalm 91:4. Psalm 119:11 says ‘Your word I have hidden in my heart, that might not sin against You.’ A wise man knows his vulnerabilities and will not want to expose them to the devil. He would avoid places where he is likely to fall into sin, cut ties with those who make him sin and seek to be always in the company of God and His children.
3. We are not entitled to any wrong pleasures
The three women with whom Ravi Zacharias allegedly misbehaved said he used to talk often about the burden and demands of his ministry. He said he felt lonely. And, that he felt entitled to these pleasures. After a leader tastes success in his field, a fan club starts worshiping him. The Christian world is full of idolaters too. Only, the idols are not in our houses, they are in our minds.
Make sure that pastor, that preacher, that Bible scholar and that worship leader whom you adore does not become your idol. A sense of entitlement that creeps into a leader makes him think he deserves some pleasure once in a while and he starts seeking it in all the wrong places. Jesus taught His disciples the attitude a servant must assume in Luke 17:10.
Even if we have done great exploits for God, we must learn to say: ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ Our reward is not from this word. It is safe in eternity. It is ready in the Master’s hands. And, He will give it to the one who is faithful till the end.
Robin Sam is a preacher, Bible teacher and missions worker. He works in Messenger Missions, a Gospel proclaiming ministry and edits The Christian Messenger magazine.
