Another has Fallen: So What's New?

By David Ryser

Recently another minister, along with his ministry, has fallen.  Who?  Does it matter?  Church leaders have been dropping like flies from the beginning of the Church. (Examples abound, both in the Bible and in Church history.) Thousands have fallen.  Time permitting; thousands more will fall.  Our usual response is to rally around the minister and seek his restoration.

This is good.  Restoration, with humility, is commended in the Bible (Galatians 6:1, 2).  I believe that we in the Church have too often been guilty of “shooting our own wounded” when it comes to dealing with people (leaders and others) who have fallen.  And I also believe that God is bigger than our mistakes…and even our sin.  Even if we have miserably failed God, He is able to heal and restore both the person and the situation for His glory.

I also believe that God desires to restore His fallen people to their purpose and ministry in His Kingdom.  I acknowledge that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29; although, in context, this verse is not speaking of individuals).  Our mistakes and sin are not bigger than God.  His purpose for us, and the gifts given to accomplish that purpose, remains unchanged regardless of our failures.

The Bible is full of stories about people who failed and were restored.  David is perhaps the prime example, but there are others.  If God can restore an adulterer and murderer, He can restore anyone.  Even the incestuous drunkard Lot is ultimately declared righteous (2 Peter 2:7, 8).

No one is beyond the power of God to restore.  The apostle Paul wrote about God’s grace and goodness toward him, even as people he had arrested for being Christians were rotting in prison...the ones who were still alive.  A former slave ship captain penned the words to the hymn, Amazing Grace.

How about you?  What’s your story?

God does not throw away people and their ministries just because they fail.  As His children, we are called to act like Him.  We are privileged to be agents of forgiveness, healing, and restoration (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).  .

But are we doing it for the wrong reason?

My friend, Arla, describes the problem eloquently when she writes that the restoration process seems to be motivated by the belief that “the world needs what [name of minister] can do.”  She notes that our justification, and ultimately our motive, for restoration is that God needs both the minister and his ministry.  In fact, the Kingdom of God needs neither.

That’s cold!  That’s awful!  But is it?

Here’s what I think is cold and awful.  I find it disgraceful to value a person merely for their anointing and gifting.  I’m troubled that my brother is being valued as a commodity rather than as a human being.

It disgusts me when the ministry is valued more than the person.

Ministers and ministries are a-dime-a-dozen.  People are priceless.  Can’t we value our brother for more than just his title and his function?  And what about his family?

What’s wrong with us?  We act all concerned for the Kingdom of God as if our brother’s fall has harmed it in some way.  Certainly the work of the Kingdom has suffered a bit, but the Kingdom itself has not been damaged.  The King is still on the throne.  The King still rules.  Even if every one of us falls, the Kingdom will stand.

The Kingdom of God will thrive without our brother’s ministry.  The important thing now is that there be genuine repentance and healing.  This takes time.  It doesn’t happen in days, weeks, or even months.

It may take years.

The ministry may need to die. God is able to resurrect it.  This certainly is no time to be soliciting funds to keep the ministry alive while the restoration process continues.  And I don’t need constant updates replete with gruesome details or “happy talk” concerning the process.  It’s none of my business.  Let the particulars of the restoration be kept between God and those directly involved.

My job, if any, is to pray and believe God.

Grace with accountability is what is needed now.  I’m trusting that all concerned will choose to walk the narrow, difficult, and painful path to true restoration.  No shortcuts.

My brother is worth it.

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com