Several times over the past months I have received the news that a brother whom I respected has shipwrecked his life and ministry. Many of you would know who I mean and others of you would perhaps know some that I don’t know at all.  The fallout is always astronomical.  However, there is a right way to respond and a right way to think.

In the first place, we respond in honesty.  We are aware of what happened, or at least of what we are told happened.  We know sin is wrong and we know it always will be.  We don’t hide it or excuse it or explain it away.  We face the facts honestly.  Sin is always evil, always costly, and always devastating.  Sin is no respecter of persons. Sometimes it destroys a life. Sometimes it destroys lives.  Sometimes it destroys a ministry and a marriage.  It destroys testimonies. It severely wounds the one who committed the sin as well as the ones who followed and trusted the leader who sinned. And without a doubt, it severely wounds those who were sinned against.  So we begin with honesty.  

It is also important that we respond with humility.  Sin is bigger than actions – it is about the heart.  Jesus taught us that adultery is wrong and it is just as wrong to think it (Matthew 5:27-28).  Paul taught us to “consider ourselves lest we also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).  James taught us to humble ourselves by cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts and by turning our laughter to mourning and our joy to heaviness (James 4:8-10).  He also immediately reminded us to be careful how we speak of one another. He actually commanded us not to speak evil of one another (James 4:11).  At the same time, truth is truth and sin is sin and we are called to stand for truth and to rebuke those who sin. We are even to do it “before all” (1 Timothy 5:20).  Humility must govern all of that.  Jesus modeled that perfectly when He “carried our griefs and bore our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4) and when he wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) even as they rejected Him.  We must respond with humility.

We should also respond with Bible truth.  Start here: we are nothing without Jesus (cf John 15:1-5). Literally nothing!  Apart from the grace of God, we will all shipwreck our lives (or be a castaway, as Paul wrote to the church of Corinth) (cf. 1 Timothy 1:19 and 1 Corinthians 9:27).  Every man is tempted when he is drawn away through his own lusts and enticed, and sin, when it is finished, really does bring forth death (cf. James 1:14-15).  Every man must seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (see Matthew 6:33).  Every one of us need a clean heart and a right spirit (like David in Psalm 51:10).  We all must keep our heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23).  We must flee fornication and follow righteousness, faith, peace, and love with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart (like 2 Timothy 2:22).  We really must confess our faults one to another and pray one for another that we may be healed (James 5:16). We must keep our eyes on the Lord and be accountable to His church and to the authorities over us (Ephesians 5:21 and Hebrews 13:17).  We must repent of our sins and kill them quickly, daily, and soundly (mortify your members which are upon the earth and die daily – Colossians 3:5 and 1 Corinthians 15:31).  Simply stated, when others fall, we must respond with Biblical truths. Think the truths.  Meditate on the truths. Re-apply the truths. Live the truths.  Align ourselves with the truths.  Commit to the truths!  The Bible never fails and the Bible will stand forever!  We hide His word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).  So how do we respond when a brother falls?  We respond with Bible truth.

We should also remember that not everyone falls.  Jude writes that God “is able to keep [us] from falling and to present [us] faultless” before His glory (Jude 1:24).  The Bible is filled with men who did not fall.  Joseph stood firm when temptation was literally thrown his way. Or rather, ran the other direction.  Daniel lived at least 70 years surrounded by the perversions of the Babylonian court and did so honorably. Paul finished his course and kept the faith.  John the author of Revelation did so as did Peter and a host of others. History also reveals many others:  Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, R.A. Torrey, John R. Rice, and Billy Graham, just to name a few.  And my father-in-law and former pastor, Dr. James Dennis.  Dad Dennis pastored for 47 years and did so honorably and righteously.  None of these men were perfect, but each of them finished well.  We must remember that not everyone falls.

I would suggest one final thing.  As heartbreaking as it is when men fall, remember that it is still okay to love and care for the fallen – even as they face the dire consequences for their sins. It is also okay to hate what they did.  In fact, we should hate what they did, and yet, still love them. That is what makes Christianity what it is.  We know that we are sinners and that apart from the grace of God we will all be destroyed by our sin.  We know that forgiveness is always available to repentant sinners.  We know that God removes sins as far as the east is from the west and that He remembers them no more.  We know that sin is horrible and deserves to be punished. We know that sin will be punished, and yet we know that sinners can be forgiven.  So it is ok to love them and even help them as they make corrections on the road called repentance.   It is ok to love them even as they face the legal consequences of illegal actions. Jesus, of course, is the only one who has modeled that perfectly, but I am thankful He did because I was the one who was fallen and He was the one who loved me and forgave me and saved me and started His work in me – a work that He Himself will complete (cf. Philippians 1:6).  We can all praise Him for that!

For the record, I am not writing to defend sin or just to be “touchy-feely.”  I am writing to encourage those who have reached out to me with sorrow and sadness in their hearts.  I am writing to encourage those who have written with perhaps a touch of fear in regards to their own lives and ministries.  I am also writing to encourage those who feel like giving up.  Please don’t!  Jesus is perfect.  He is with you.  Keep following Him. He never fails!

Let’s pray for one another.   We need it!

Your sincere friend,

Pastor Dave