When leaders fall we should all tremble before God

So yet another high profile leader betrays his wife and his Lord — not in a moment of weakness but after months, even years, of deception.

A common response is let’s blame the other tribe, for instance those successful, megachurch, leaders with too much money and power. Then what about the internationally recognised theologian, ethicist and social justice advocate abused scores of women over decades? Then there was the greatest Protestant theologian of the 20th Century who was an adulterer who brought his mistress to live in the family home with his wife and children. An African church planter wants a second wife and threatens to take his network of churches back into Islam if it is not permitted. The founder of a world-renowned ministry to the disabled was an abuser of women. A model pastor who drew tens of thousands to his leadership summits was forced out of his church in disgrace.

Before we blame that other tribe, or the patriarchy, tremble before God.

One of my heroes is Floyd McClung. Decades ago I heard him say, “I pray the fear of God upon my life every day.” I never forgot that lesson. Guard your heart before God.

Here’s another poor response — “God has already forgiven him before he asks, he should forgive himself.” That’s not forgiveness, that’s permissiveness. God’s love is holy. Paul told the Corinthians because of their abuse of the Lord’s Supper, some of them are sick and some have died. Why does God judge in this life? So we won’t face final condemnation with the world (1 Cor 11:3). God judges people in this life to protect them from a worse fate.

It’s a work of grace when God waits for us to turn back to him. It’s a work of grace when he exposes us so we might turn back to him. It’s a work of grace when he judges us in this life that we might turn back to him and avoid final judgement.

The great temptations for leaders are money, sex and power (fame is one form of power). What are we to do about them?

Years ago I heard Arch Hart say Christian leaders worry too much about morals and not enough about ethics. Ethics are the guard rail at the top of the lookout so you don’t fall off the mountain. Morality is the ambulance at the bottom of the mountain.

Morality asks, should I give this attractive woman a reassuring hug after our private conversation in her home? Ethics says, I’m not going past the front door if it’s just the two of us. David should have been in the field with his army, not spying on Bathsheba bathing. Build ethical boundaries in your life and make sure you’re accountable.

Pray for the fear of God, don’t take his holy love for granted. Do not neglect such a great salvation. Do not crucify again the Son of God. If we keep on sinning, living a lie, refusing to seek his mercy, we are in eternal danger (Heb 10:26-27). Let the fear of God awaken us to his loving mercy. Bring sin into the light. Put it right now. Flee immorality. Our failures are not the final word. There will be painful consequences. David lost the child born to Bathsheba. His kingdom and his family was torn by civil war, but God forgave him and restored him.