Ridgell's Originals

One of the difficult things I do as an elder and preacher is talk to people devastated by the sin of others. It happens every time a Christian leader sins. Those who looked up to them are hurt, disappointed, betrayed, and confused. I have had those same feelings when I found those I respected to be sinners. And I have caused those feelings in people who looked up to me. This is a situation as old as the Bible (God's leaders sinned then too) and as new as today (almost every week I get a call from someone regarding this issue). So let me share a few thoughts about when your spiritual leaders sin.

First, remember that all of God's people are sinners. Abraham, Moses, Saul, David, Peter, Judas, and Paul all sinned while they were leading God's people. Of course Satan is going to attack the leaders of God's people. It is the quickest way to inflict damage on the family of God. This doesn't make it right and it is not to excuse it, but it is reality. So remember that all of us are human. Pray for your leaders to stay strong.

Do not let your faith rest on people. God and Jesus are the focus of our faith and the source of our salvation. Parents, preachers, elders, teachers, and leaders should not be the focus of our faith. We must remember this in practice, not just in theory. Leaders need to keep their ego in check and we do not need to feed an unhealthy view of those in spiritual leadership.

Remember that it is really hard to know someone's heart. We can all say the right things, or put up the right image. Saul did not do near as many bad things as David seemed to... but David got it and Saul did not. Saul never really gave his life to God, and David never really quit on God. So I try to be very careful not to assume who is David and who is Saul.

I would encourage you to focus on the good. If they taught you God's Word, that is something you will always have. If they really helped you spiritually, be thankful. If they are broken and penitent, be glad they get it. If they are in rebellion against God, use that as a warning in your life.

Faithful Christians sometimes mess up. Extend compassion and help. It may be that after helping so many others, they find themselves in need of help. Remember that Jesus still loves them. Pray for them, cry with them, love them, and seek restoration for them.

Sometimes there are church leaders who do not know Jesus. Let that remind us to be more careful who we follow and who we put in positions of leadership. That is why the emphasis must always be on Jesus.

Finally, remember that Jesus had twelve apostles and one of them really didn't get it. Another great failure became the leader of the early church. Most of them ran under the pressure of the cross. And they came back and spread the news of Jesus all over the world. And sometimes real spiritual leadership is not about the falling down...it is about the getting up. And that may be where you see who is Peter or David, and who is Judas or Saul.

So treat Christian leaders who stumble just like you would want to be treated if it happened to you.