Words can’t describe how disappointed and discouraged I am upon hearing the news that Ravi Zacharias is likely guilty of repeated sexual misconduct.
The announcement came yesterday from the RZIM Board’s Executive Committee — RZIM of course standing for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. RZIM had previously commissioned a full investigation and they were commenting on an interim report they received from the firm conducting that investigation.
**Read the announcement (and attached report) by clicking HERE**
I’m a longtime fan of Ravi Zacharias. I’ve read at least two of his books, listened to countless of his sermons and lectures, and watched numerous YouTube videos of his presentations and Q&A sessions. When, years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to go hear him in person, we leaped at it. And when two members of the church I serve got to meet him in person while on vacation – and snapped a selfie with him — I was jealous. 🙂
Ravi Zacharias has been one of my heroes in the evangelical Christian community. It wouldn’t have been a stretch to call me a Ravi “fan boy.”
And I was among those who genuinely mourned his passing earlier in 2020. I was also gratified that COVID-19 didn’t stop his family and friends – and the good folks of RZIM – from giving him the public send-off he (in my view) so richly deserved.
Ravi Zacharias’s approach to Christianity was never to beat people over the head with the Bible or condemn people for their doubts or struggles. Instead, he consistently conveyed a message of thoughtful reflection wrapped up in warm compassion.
And say what you will about Ravi Zacharias, but the man was a deep thinker. Of course, there have been allegations and controversies surrounding the apparent beefing up of his credentials. But I never questioned his knowledge or expertise.
It’s sad that, in many circles, formal academic credentials are seen as an indicator of whether someone is even worthy of attention. No doubt this is what pressured Zacharias to imply he had more impressive credentials than he did.
Still, I felt the controversy over his credentials was (for the most part) a “nothing burger.” Sure, it’s disappointing that he stretched and inflated things, but I understand the “why.” And the “why” frustrates me even more. It’s simply wrong for us to worship credentials and titles as much as we do. I know many people who lack credentials and yet could dance intellectual circles around people who have them!
Lest I be misunderstood, I am not dismissing the importance or value of formal education. On the contrary, I commend those who work hard, and invest the time and money, into quality education. I’m just saying there are more ways to get an education than the formal, higher-education route popularized since the Industrial Age.
There’s no question that Ravi Zacharias was well-read and well-educated, regardless of whether he received a formal doctorate.
There can also be no doubt that Ravi Zacharias’s message overall was solid. I’m still grateful for what I learned from reading, watching, and listening to him over the years.
Nevertheless….
Reading these words from the interim report is something I can’t get past:
Combining [our] interviews with our review of documents and electronic data, we have found significant, credible evidence that Mr. Zacharias engaged in sexual misconduct over the course of many years. Some of that misconduct is consistent with and corroborative of that which is reported in the news recently, and some of the conduct we have uncovered is more serious.
Interim Report from Miller & Martin, firm contracted by RZIM to investigate Ravi Zacharias (report is linked above in this post)
Not only does this make Ravi Zacharias basically an adulterer, but I cannot excuse the pain Ravi Zacharias apparently caused to those women he (again, apparently) objectified, exploited, and mistreated over the years. And it grieves me that I even have to write those words. 🙁
Yes, everyone is human. And yes, everyone is a sinner. And yes, no one is perfect. And yes… there but for the grace of God go I. Yes to all of that.
I don’t fault people for being tempted.
I don’t even fault people for sometimes falling to temptation (though some temptations are more consequential than others – and thus some sins are more grievous than others).
Side Note: Some sins are worse than other sins. It’s astonishing to me how many Christians (who claim to read and believe the Bible) deny this. Yes, all sin – any sin – separates us from the glory of God and thus places us in need of a Savior. But some sins are absolutely, irrefutably more grievous, painful, and/or consequential than other sins. How anyone can dispute this is beyond me — except of course that person’s desire to minimize their own sin and deflect attention to other people. THAT I have sadly observed to be the case on many occasions.
Still, to be clear, I understand the reality of temptation and the reality that every single Christian will, on occasion, stumble and fall. I get it.
What I fault Ravi Zacharias for (and so many other prominent Christians who have fallen for) is failing to do the following…
If you have struggles, get the help, the support, and the accountability you need so you minimize the damage to yourself, your loved ones, and your testimony.
My Cardinal rule for Christians
(especially those in positions of Leadership)
Frankly, even if you don’t have struggles, support and accountability are still good things.
I’ve often pondered the difference between falling into sin versus hypocrisy.
Every Christian sins, but does that mean every Christian is a hypocrite?
If you define hypocrisy very broadly (and, I would say, incorrectly and unfairly), then “yes,” every Christian would qualify as being a hypocrite — because every Christian is imperfect and falls short.
But if you define hypocrisy as pretending to be someone you’re not, then you are landing on the proper definition and a clearer picture of the challenge emerges.
If a Christian knows that he or she struggles with a certain temptation or certain area of weakness, OWN IT. You don’t have to broadcast it from the highest mountain or on Facebook or Instagram, but you should own up to that weakness to God, yourself, and a close circle of trusted friends or colleagues with whom you can (as the saying goes) “be safe.”
It all starts with God of course. It’s crucial you stay in prayer and in the Bible. Not periodically, but DAILY!
And your prayers need to be real!
Don’t engage with God on the surface!
Be real! Read through the Psalms. Those prayers are REAL!
Admit all your struggles and temptations to God. Pour your heart out to Him. Tell Him EVERYTHING! Hold NOTHING back!
Yes, God already knows, but it draws you closer to Him when you EMPTY YOURSELF OUT BEFORE HIM!
And the more you empty yourself of your fears, struggles, anxiety, and negative emotions, the more room for the Holy Spirit to fill you up!
Don’t stop with prayer and Bible reading.
Surround yourself with close friends or trusted fellow Christians that you can do life with.
This circle of friends or colleagues can then pray for you, check up on you, help you set some important boundaries in your life, and just generally encourage and support you.
Sadly, many people who struggle with lots of temptations, sins, and addictions have driven many of their friends away. It’s important that you TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for your life and carry your own burdens (Galatians 6:4-5) even as you ask others periodically to help you carry your burdens (Galatians 6:2).
**Read “7 Signs of a Toxic Friendship” over at Medium**
This is one of the reasons we have the local church. And it’s something the local church should take seriously — members of the church should enter into these kinds of relationships with one another. (Not necessarily you holding yourself fully open and accountable to the entire church, but perhaps to some close friends in the church or your small group).
There are also ministries along these lines such as Celebrate Recovery.
Ministries like that are not only an important supplement to your church and circle of friends, but they can also be an interim substitute if you have strained your relationship with family and friends (and even your church).
When heroes fall — especially spiritual heroes — it’s tough. The pastor who officiated my marriage to Jane later fell into adultery. As a lover of history, I have many heroes — all of them flawed in some way. It’s tough to read about those flaws.
It’s challenging when high-profile Christians fall — even if they aren’t heroes per se. The head of the seminary in which I got my master’s in theology was recently forced out due to all kinds of issues that I can’t even put into a simple sentence.
And you’ve seen the news. You know of many prominent Christian leaders from big churches, music groups, and other settings who have fallen into sin, left the faith, or both. It’s sad.
I have several friends and acquaintances — who are or have been in the ministry — who have fallen into sin (to varying degrees). In every case, people have been hurt.
And yes, one of the things that hangs over my head is knowing that spiritual forces are real. The Enemy is real! And there are no doubt demons who know my weaknesses. The idea that they could engineer a series of circumstances or temptations to lead to my demise keeps me nervously on alert.
For that matter, the demons don’t even need to work that hard. I have my sinful flesh that can lead me into sin even without the active work of the Enemy.
I need prayer and support too.
And what many pastors and spiritual leaders won’t tell you… I will.
Ministry can be very stressful. And stress can and will weaken you. It can weaken you physically, emotionally, and (yes) spiritually.
This doesn’t excuse sin, but it does serve to partly explain it.
The best thing that Christians can do for ministry leaders (especially pastors) is twofold:
- Pray for them regularly
- Minimize their stress (encourage them, help them, don’t engage in petty drama and criticism)
Fortunately (praise God) our church is blessed with wonderful elders and deacons — and wonderful church members in general.
And I have close friends in the ministry — including a fellow pastor who leads a church not far from ours and an awesome Director of Missions to help encourage me and hold me accountable. I also have a few very close Christian friends (a couple I’ve known since my college days — one I’ve known since third grade!). These men can speak into my life any time they wish and on any subject they wish. And vice versa.
And of course, I have an awesome wife who is, without question, my very best friend and who I trust more than anyone else in the world — someone who has been with me (despite my flaws and shortcomings — she has the list) for 28 years!
Bottom line: We all are flawed and imperfect. We all need accountability. And we all need to be HONEST in our need for accountability.
And THAT is my issue with Ravi Zacharias.
We are all imperfect. We all fall short. And we all have a sin or sins that “easily beset us” (to steal a phrase from Hebrews 12).
Therefore…. we need God and we need trusted, genuine accountability.
Ravi Zacharias failed to get that help and accountability, and therefore he has tarnished his legacy.
Like King David, he did some great things — but he also did some foolish and terrible things, and he hurt a lot of people because of it.
And he let people like us down.
I just found out about Ravi and sexual misconduct today and I am so disappointed as a Christian as I also looked up to him as an aspiring apologist.
I too know he is just a human like all of us but to learn of his secrets has saddened me. In Christ, Suzan