When a Pastor Falls into Sin: Where to go from here

 

Why do pastor's fall into sin?

        With the recent news that another popular, well-known, well-loved megachurch pastor fell into sin, we must ask why are pastor's falling into sin? The very simple answer is that pastors have the same problem as everyone else - they are innately sinful. All of us have at least this one commonality, we are sinners. Therefore, it should not surprise us that pastors fall into sinful acts and behaviors. 

        Each story is unique, with nuanced emotions and rationalities that play a part in the act of sinning. But one consistent action in each story is that every pastor (and every lay person) decides in the moment whether they will sin or submit to God. My mentor and pastor, Steve Pope, has said for years, "The most spiritual thing you will do today is make a decision." Every choice we make; each decision we decide; all the verdicts we conclude either lead us to truth as we have submitted to Jesus or lead us to destruction as we have chosen to ignore His truth.

        There are the common sins that we have grown so accustomed to that God's grace must be lavished upon us each day. Some of these sins may be impatience, anger, lust, gossip, etc. These sins are not excused, for Jesus' blood was shed so that we would be freed from these sins! However, we know that each of us fall short of God's glory, and we have grace (or at least we should have grace) for others wrestling with these temptations and sins. 

        Sins that culminate in a pastor stepping down from his pastoral duties are generally more grievous than the "normal" sins of which we wrestle with on a daily basis. In these "bigger," more grievous sins come secrets, isolation, and multiple destructive decisions that ultimately leads to greater consequences. 

Our hearts should be broken

        Anytime anyone falls into sin our hearts should break. Sin is destructive. Choosing to sin is choosing to suffer. We should not rejoice over sin. Rather we should pray for those facing their consequences and use these moments as a sober reminder that our fall could be one poor choice away. 

        Watching popular pastors resigning or being fired over unchecked sin can be disheartening for those of us wanting to walk in purity of mind and body unto the Lord. We may think, well, if that pastor couldn't walk in submission to Christ, how could I? But let me be a voice of reason to those that think this way: your walk with God is your walk. Your faith is not based upon the faithfulness (or lack thereof) of a pastor or leader within the Church. Your faith is based upon the faithfulness of Jesus, who has never failed. 

        When our walk is focused on other believers rather than Christ, we will become embittered and wary of leadership. But if our focus remains purely on Jesus, our hearts will be broken for those that fall into sin; we will be able to give grace to those that feel the consequence of their sin. Focusing on Christ and His grace for us allows us the opportunity to help those in desperate need. 

From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. - II Corinthians 5:16-19

Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. - Galatians 6:1

Let us focus on Jesus!

       So then let us heed the unspoken warning of watching another pastor fall. Let us be aware of our own tendencies to wander from God. Let us be serious about following the Lord. Let us be ready to help those caught in sin. Let us always remain focused on Jesus.

        May we move forward in humility and love pursuing our relationship with Jesus. May we be more devoted to Jesus and His Church. May we find community and commit to it. May we be the disciplined men and women of God that eagerly seek His face. And may we shed the sin that can quickly take us captive and destroy us.

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us. . . - Hebrews 13:1