Thoughts on the Ravi Zacharias Scandal - Alisa Childers

Video from Alisa Childers

Thoughts on the Ravi Zacharias Scandal - Alisa Childers

Inside RZIM, Staff Push Leaders to Take Responsibility for Scandal: Christianity Today Article

"Part of my testimony is that when I was drowning in doubt, I asked God to send me a lifeboat. I've stated publicly that one of the earliest and most significant "lifeboats" was the apologetics message of Ravi Zacharias. With allegations of sexual misconduct being brought against him, I'm asking the question, what do you do when Christian leaders fail...when your "lifeboat" springs a leak?" video introduction from Alisia Childers

We are all grieved by the fall of a beloved leader. Ravi Zacharias has been one of my most admired apologists and has greatly influenced my life as he perhaps has influenced yours.

Ravi spoke the truth of Christ. He was a fallen sinner like all of us and there are no excuses for his sins.

Sex has become increasingly digitized with the ubiquity of porn. Abuse follows the same pattern as people use technology to perpetrate their sins. The seemingly regular reporting of revelations about Christian leaders and their sexual abuse leads to either despair of ever finding integrity and honor in our spiritual heroes, or we promote changes in the church and society to prevent abuse once and for all. The reality is that neither will ultimately keep us sinners from abusing others.

Accountability is something we should demand of everyone in many areas of life. Yet it is the accountability through our God that knows and sees every sin, there are no secrets. In the meantime, we obey our leaders and elders.

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17

Ravi Zacharias broke the trust of vulnerable, exposed women and now the trust of his organization, family, and followers. Let us grieve on their behalf and lament this evil. We must all renew our commitments to make sure such sin and injustice do not happen in our sphere of influence.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” Phil. 2:3-4.

We all must tremble with fear before the judgment of God, because we will give an account someday for our sins. Christ shed his blood for us and He is “near to the brokenhearted,” the God who “saves the crushed in spirit”

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit. Ps. 34:18

Ravi Zacharias may have escaped justice in the here and now. No one escapes justice before God. What happened between Zacharias and God at his judgment we do not know. Yet we do know God’s justice is being done and completed, one way or another.

#extraordinarygod