When spiritual leaders fall.

I never said he was a friend but he did witness Jesus Christ to each of them have you ever spoke to the POTUS? And share the gospel with one? You are so much more accomplished than Billy Graham for the kingdom of God. If you have an identity crisis, get some help, instead of attacking those who are dead to make yourself more holy.

Graham met with many presidents because:
1. He was very popular
2. They were all freemasons whom he met with in the oval office.
It's not about me, so quit being mad at me for telling the truth.

The scandal surrounding the late Ravi Zacharias and RZIM is heartbreaking and a blow to the body of Christ. He was a well recognized and respected american apologist whose legacy will be one of shame and disgrace. The scriptures admonish us in this wise Numbers 32:23 " But if you will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out." I sympathize with the victims and pray they may find the forgiveness that will set them free from the anquish, guilt and shame one can experience as a result of the physical/sexual violation occured upon them.

The question is where does the church go from here? The church will continue to go towards the goal set forth by God, so I quess the next question is were does the Body of Christ go from here? To answer that we must take a hard look at it's membership. Think about that until I get back to you.

I know when I was in my 30's and had been out of church for a while and returned I went to Bible studies at a Pastor's home and really looked up to both him and his wife. He came from a family with a Christian background and active in the church. He was such a spiritual leader.

When he fell and left his wife for another woman and then stopped going to church all together I was shaken. I can remember talking to God and asking Him if this Pastor who had been so close to Him had fallen away and he was much more spiritual than I felt I had ever been I asked God - What chance do I have if he can't make it?

God pretty much said that I should keep my eyes on Him and not the people around me because we are all fallen humans and no matter our education that we can't look at each other we must keep our focus on Him and the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

I prayed so hard for the former Pastor and my heart felt so much for him and his family that was torn apart. I remember praying that he would feel comfortable enough to come back to church and that very Sabbath after my prayer he was in church. I looked at him and whispered I love you to him and was so grateful that God had answered my prayer.

Whether he came back to the church on a regular basis I don't know, but I do know that God loves all of us and that leaders are also with a free choice and can make bad and wrong choices just like we can. So I have learned to keep my eyes on God/Jesus and pray for the ones around me who fall. Leader or not we all have a sin problem and one isn't above another we all sin and fall short of God's glory.

hmm I dont really get the idolising of certain christians like Billy Graham and Ravi Zacharaias.

I get indundated with books about Billy Graham in the library...he wrote his own 700 plus page autobiography which was basically his world tour travelogue. But I felt sorry for his family that he pretty much left behind to raise by themselves while he was doing all this evangelising.

I dont have that many by ravi zacharias but from what I read of a few they are not very indepth on scripture at all. Its more like a basic salvation message without anything deeper, like what an athiest would read if they turned christian, as its all in their head but no action.

Not really keen on all the Jesus talks to Hitler, Jesus talks to Krishna, Jesus talks to Muhammed type books.

Sense and Sensuality - Jesus talks with Oscar Wilde. Um yea that was actually one he wrote.

?!

Yes. Why would an abuse victim be afraid to come forward when their powerful and well-known abuser is still alive and adored by millions?

I use to listen to him myself sometimes when driving. I agree with what you say but the damage done is damage done. And something the world points to and calls us all hypocrites (never mind they are far far worse)

I have suffered spiritual abuse years back and it took more years to deal with it and it has left me super cautious and God knows the damage done to all who suffer that as well. Leaves you with major trust issues and that includes trusting God because of course, you keep asking 'how could God allow that' until you finally come to terms with the fact God allows an awful lot but that is no reflection on His person or character. I could write a book ( but I won't haha)

It is a constant reminder to us all to keep our eyes on Christ and not put people on a pedestal.

I agree, and pray for your continued healing.

Thank you Pam

Brother I appreciate you so much. You always have a thoughtful and balanced approach. I'm sitting on the fence on this one. I don't know what's true and what isn't in this whole mess. I've read that there are inappropriate pictures that were found. I don't know. I do that I was in traveling ministry, the same way he way he was, and it can be very lonely being away from home and family. It's an opportunity for sin to creep in. I traveled with family but many out there do not. I was around a lot of men, and I was single, some were single and some were married. Most of them treated me with respect, but others, well you could tell what they were up to. And I felt sorry for their wives at home waiting for them. I remember how much grief Mike Pence got when he said he wouldn't allow himself to be alone with another woman. Don't give the devil a toe in the door. I think that is a smart policy.

I didn't know Ravi, I listened to some of his videos and thought he was very intelligent and he did a lot to further the Gospel. The problem is, in one fell swoop he undid it all. Now I don't know the mans heart. People can struggle mightily with sin and can't seem to get the victory. That doesn't mean they aren't also bitterly repenting after the deed is done. The devil knows our weakness and how to use it against us. All that being said we have to separate the deeds of the man and his ministry. If he did abuse these women then we must not been seen as covering for him in any way. He was wrong, dead wrong. Where he was with his walk with the Lord, we don't know. But we also have to say that we cannot wink at abuse of women or children as the Catholic church did. So we can say "yes, he reached many with the Gospel, but he failed morally and what he did was sin and wrong, it was abuse and it should never be tolerated, nor should there be an excuse made for it. And I say that from a perspective of a person who is a sinner, saved by grace, who stumbles and needs to repent and start each day anew.

I would never say he was right. If he sinned greatly he should pay for it
I am just saying do not condemn the man. We are not God

Thank you for this post. A lot of truth here sis a lot!

No, I agree, that's between him and the Lord. As an old Gospel singer once said " the older I get the more people I'm letting into heaven". Only God knows.

First, off they are accusations and they came out after he died. He is not here to refute this claim of abuse. Which means most likely it is a smear job.

Thank you.
Praise God for those words.

I wonder if she realizes the position she is now in?
" I sat there and watched him ...bla bla bla"

" fifty times"

Facepalm

All in good fun.

Yeah..... RZIM smeared him bad. .
Riiight.
They was the one who did it, BTW.
https://www.rzim.org/read/rzim-updates/board-statement