Like many of you, I am devastated reading the reports detailing the sins, crimes, and devastation left in the wake of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This link will give you the information you need. Warning: you will read about dreadful things done by someone claiming to follow Jesus. What follows represents a brief list of thoughts and questions which will attempt to encourage you to process in this moment.
- While the content of the reports grieves many who loved Ravi and his teaching, grieve for those hurt on so many levels by his actions and by the people who propped him up.
- Cheer for the heroic victims who stood their ground when slandered.
- If these realities surprise you, let me encourage you to keep reading the Bible. The stories of the kings in the Old Testament provide very helpful insight into humans, power, and its abuse.
- I continue to question the need for “famous” Christians. Many – I repeat many – of the people I have followed over the last 20+ years of my career in ministry have received correction for serious character flaws, caused scandal, hurt people, committed suicide, or otherwise lived a double life. A little bit of research will also reveal deep flaws in many well known writers and theologians of the past.
- Please don’t take #4 to mean I think all well known Christians, ministries, and teachers are frauds. I merely suggest we should show a lot of discernment before giving people authority in our lives.
- I will join many other voices calling for RZIM to cease and desist as an organization. There is no path forward.
- May I also say I am not without sin, flaw, shame, or personal struggle. This applies to the past and the present and stands true for all believers actively pursuing Jesus.
- Justice is always a very grueling process. It rarely favors the victims.
- Notice: For many speaking out comes easily after the report. Believing credible testimony and demanding a (dead) beloved Christian figure’s organization subject itself to an investigation? Not so much. A good discussion question: why is this?
- All believers: asking your church about the accountability of its leaders is a loving thing to do. If you get push back, it may tell you something.
- May I please remind you leaders have real sins and flaws and need the love of Jesus just as much as any other Christian? Many leaders you know live lonely existences, afraid to deal with weaknesses and sins.
- I wish I had all the answers. I wish I could erase the pain of all hurt by Ravi’s dreadful actions. I don’t and I can’t. No one can. We truly must trust the Lord’s perfect knowledge and justice. We will never know everything we want to know. But we worship One who does.
- Let us grieve in the moment and commit to responding better in the future.