We’ve all seen them—news releases about well-known Christian leaders whose immoral behavior was exposed.These people have built enormous churches and ministries. They speak at large conferences. They write best-selling books. They charge huge fees for their services. Yet, with almost metronomic frequency, Christian leaders fall from their pedestal.
Why are people who have done so much for God’s kingdom so vulnerable to sin?
If you study the downfall of Christian leaders today, you will find some common characteristics:
1. They are accountable to no one.One of the most common traits of the fallen is that they were not accountable to anyone. They might have had a committee or a statement in the bylaws suggesting a form of accountability, but no one in their life had the freedom or authority to call out their un-Christlike behavior. Those who tried were quickly dismissed.
2. They act like it could not happen to them.The danger of putting leaders on pedestals is that they may start to believe they are immune to the sins and temptations that assail everyone else. But because of their high-profile roles, they face temptations and pressures that others may not. They might have access to more money that can be abused. They are often surrounded by sycophants who tell them what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. Living in a bubble, they can ignore the danger signals flashing all around them.
3. Unguarded/challenged thoughts. Catastrophic moral failures are preceded by bad thinking. For example, Christian leaders don’t typically begin absconding with organizational funds or committing adultery on a whim. First, they may think, “This organization doesn’t pay me enough . . . It owes me.” Or, “My wife is not meeting my needs . . . I need someone who understands me.” When sinful thoughts go unchecked, it is much easier to justify sinful actions.
Christian leaders need someone who challenges ungodly thinking before it gains a foothold in their behavior. Throughout my career, I’ve had people in my life who felt free to challenge my assumptions. At one point, someone in my organization hurt my feelings. I began to have unhealthy thoughts: “I am not treated like I should be . . . I deserve better than that.”
Then, out of the blue, a large ministry contacted me and asked if I would consider becoming their CEO. I thought, “I deserve to work somewhere where I’m valued!”
The problem was that I tried that rationale out on my father, who happened to be passing through town. Rather than affirming my self-centered, petty attitude, Dad asked, “Have you finished everything God brought you here to accomplish?”
“No,” I replied, “But they don’t appreciate me here!”
Dad responded, “Did God call you here to be appreciated?”
Busted! He burst those self-centered thoughts and exposed them for what they were. I turned down that job offer.
When leaders isolate themselves, sinful thoughts can metastasize in their minds. It is crucial for them to have people in their life who challenge faulty thinking before it entrenches itself in their heart.
4. An unattended walk with God.Don’t assume that writing popular Christian books or being a talented preacher means someone is walking closely with the Lord. People can have a head full of knowledge that their heart doesn’t practice.
The greatest deterrent to sin is a close walk with God. It is extremely difficult to keep meeting daily with God in an honest, personal, accountable manner and yet continue down the path of sin.
Most people I know who have fallen morally would confess that their walk with God had grown cold from neglect. They stopped praying, because they did not want to talk with God about their temptations. They knew God would condemn their behavior if they drew close to him. So they didn’t. Only after closing their ears to the Holy Spirit’s voice could they proceed with the sin that had lodged itself in their heart.
Conclusion
It seems to be the American way to make celebrities out of people we admire. We naturally want to place them on a pedestal and regard them from afar. But a pedestal is a dangerous and unnatural place to be. Our leaders should be among us, looking us in the eye, hearing our honest concerns, and receiving our rebuke when necessary. They may be less comfortable than they would be lounging on a pedestal, but it very well could prevent them from harming themselves and others when they crash and burn like so many have done before them.
