The resignation of Hillsong founder, Brian Houston, following revelations of inappropriate behaviour, and a criminal charge of concealing his father’s past child abuse from the police, is but the latest story of many Christian leaders who have ‘fallen from grace’. This follows two other Hillsong leaders facing scandal, one for adultery, another for a rape accusation.

Moral failures, of course aren’t limited to Hillsong. It’s only a month since Bruxy Cavey admitted infidelity and resigned from leading his Canadian megachurch; while, just twelve months previously, the Christian world was shocked by the discovery of popular apologetics teacher, Ravi Zacharias’ abuse of women who worked for him.

These stories follow in the wake of years of revelations of child abuse within several major denominations – in many cases by influential church or youth-work leaders.¹

As Jesus said, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” (Matt 10:26). Dark secrets that people wanted kept hidden have been dragged out into the light.

Heart-breaking for all

Revelations like these can be devastating, particularly for those directly involved in the churches that have been affected. As a young adult, I was part of a small youth church that had been built up by a charismatic individual. On the surface, God seemed to have his hand on it, but under the surface, elements of ‘heavy shepherding’ were becoming more prevalent. A short time after linking with another church, a secret that had been hidden came out in the open – of the pastor’s affair with an under-age girl.

This led to the complete destruction of the church, as many who had looked up to the pastor became disillusioned - not just with him, but with God too. I tried to care as best I could for these teenagers; but one by one, they drifted away. Broken and bruised, I clung to my faith during what was a particularly dark time.

We need to pray for all those who are broken and bruised by the various revelations coming from the Hillsong movement – long before we pass any judgement.

Such experience is unfortunately all too common. We need to pray for all those who are broken and bruised by the various revelations coming from the Hillsong movement – long before we pass any judgement.

A roaring lion

But just how should we respond in the face of so many prominent Christians failing to live up to expectations? We need a recognition that any of us can fall to temptation. 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” We are all human, and we all face different temptations.

Leaders, of course, are called to even higher account (see 1 Tim 3:1-7). As such, they potentially have even further to fall. And the devil knows that the quickest way to destroy a church is to successfully attack the leader – which he invariably does by targeting that person’s weakness.

If we aren’t in leadership, we need to ensure that we pray regularly for those in authority over us. We also need to ensure that they have people who support them – and to whom they are accountable, and that these guidelines are structured and monitored.

If we are in any position of ministry (as we all should be, to some extent), but particularly in leadership, we need to make full use of any accountability structures, asking for these to be implemented if they are not already there. Leaders need regular opportunities to open up to others about their walk with God, and to evaluate temptations and difficulties.

Sensible measures to prevent temptation are helpful too. Billy Graham famously made it a policy to never be alone with a woman other than his wife. Good safeguarding procedures should be considered essential in any ministry, being robustly enacted.

We need to stay humble too, prioritising our relationship with God above any platform or ministry.

We need to stay humble too, prioritising our relationship with God above any platform or ministry. We become more vulnerable to temptation if we let pride dictate our thoughts, or, on the other hand, if we are ‘running on empty’ – giving out, but not taking time for personal spiritual growth. Pastor Carl Lentz described this as one of the factors that led to his adultery.

Failures abound – but so do successes

We all need encouragement, and, where necessary, we need to humbly accept criticism that is given to build up (rather than tear down).

Each one of the leaders listed above had successes in the ministry. They brought many into a vibrant Christian faith, and encouraged the faithful further on in their walk with God.

Unfortunately, Christians have had the tendency to fall into one of two camps – idolising and adulating leaders and movements, or being overly critical of them, actively looking for failure.²

Numerous biblical leaders had moral failures; look at King David as a potent example. But with repentance, people can be restored, though not always to the same position. Wisdom is called for when making this judgment.

Do not look to a movement or a man, but to God alone.

And when ministers and ministries appear to be hugely successful, we must not idolise them. As pastor Shane Idleman comments, “Do not look to a movement or a man, but to God alone.”

In the main, when my former church fell apart due to the sins of the pastor, it was those whose faith was built on God who were able to weather the storm – those who followed the dynamic lead of the pastor were the ones who fell away.

So let us place our trust in our God and Saviour, the Rock. And, as Jesus said to his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41).

Endnotes
1 Of course, some of these abuses were made by cold, calculating people – wolves in sheep’s clothing – who deliberately targeted soft-hearted, naïve churches. That is in a different league from many of these pastors, who started off with good intentions.
2 Tom Lennie’s tribute to Gerald Coates is a good example of how we can speak encouragingly of someone’s ministry and person, even while disagreeing with them on certain aspects.