Recently, three more extremely influential pastors have resigned due to their sins. I've been at the churches of many of these fallen leaders, had lunch with one of them, and studied under all of them. I’ve followed and taught what I’ve learned from them and the movements that they started. The significant impact they’ve had on me, untold millions of believers, and the world is immeasurable.
When “giants of the faith” fall, answering three basic questions can guide us through the confusion, disappointment, challenges, and disillusionment it brings: What is God doing? What is the enemy doing? What are we to do?
What is God doing? God has made His intent abundantly clear through His Word converging with a multitude of prophetic words and prayers.
The Word of God - God has said that he will clean house, purify his bride, and that everything concealed will be revealed. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. 1 Peter 4:17
For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Luke 12:2
Prophetic Words - Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7 Over the last year and a half, people have been sensing that God was going to expose hidden sin, lies, and wickedness and bring hidden things into the light. We’ve seen this in the church and in every area of our culture.
Prayers—As tyranny, cultural and moral decay, lawfare, Marxism, godlessness, and lies have become rampant, we started praying, “Expose the wickedness,” then “Expose the lies and bring justice,” and, as my pastor friend said, “Expose, extract, and eliminate.” We’ve prayed for truth to prevail. We’ve prayed Psalm 109:8, “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.” As we’ve prayed, we’ve seen mighty leaders fall as their sins were exposed. We’ve seen what was dismissed as “conspiracy theories” be proven true. We’ve seen Roe v. Wade overturned. While we are still praying for God’s justice to prevail in many areas, we’re seeing countless answers to our prayers.
What is the enemy doing? The bible tells us to be aware of Satan’s devices lest he take advantage of us (2 Cor 2:11), and to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (Peter 5:8).
When people we have held in high esteem fall, the enemy wants to draw us into resignation, unforgiveness, cynicism, and bitterness. He will try to draw us into two ditches:
Licentiousness - We can adopt the mindset, “If great leaders fall into sin, what’s the use of me staying pure.” Psalm 73:13 laments: Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
Legalism - When others fall, rather than realizing, “There but for the grace of God go I,” we can easily become self-righteous, judgmental, and proud. The enemy wants to destroy us and cause us to miss the grace of God.
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18
God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. James 4:6
Not only does the enemy want to use the exposed sins of church leaders to destroy them, their families, those they have sinned against, and their ministries, but he also tries to bring disrepute to God, Christianity, and anyone else he can. In multiple headlines, articles, and videos about the latest megachurch pastor resigning over sin, he was described as “Donald Trump's spiritual advisor” and shown in photo after photo with Trump. Trying to take advantage of the situation with this political assassination attempt is an obvious ploy of “the accuser of our brethren.”
What are we to do?
Stay focused on Jesus. When so many who we thought were pillars of the faith fall, it’s easy to let it undermine our faith, belief, and trust in God and the centrality of Jesus.
Don’t dismiss what we have gained from the ministries of those who have fallen. David wrote many of the Psalms before he committed adultery and murder. His son, Solomon, wrote many Proverbs but also fell to disobedience and unfaithfulness. Yet the truth of the word of God coming through these men still guides us today.
Accept the Blessing of Disillusionment. Being illusioned means that we place a trust and expectation in man that only God can meet.
Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. John 2:24-25
Oswald Chambers says that when we have illusions about people:
We are demanding of a human being that which he or she cannot give. There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we have godly disillusionment, we are free to love and accept people as they are without suspicion, false expectations, or bitterness.
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