Posted on 02/13/2021 4:34:27 PM PST by SeekAndFind
How should Christians respond when one of their most renowned leaders is revealed to have led a disturbing double life? It is a question that many followers of Christ have wrestled with since the inception of the Christian church, and it is one that I am struggling with after learning of the revelations regarding Ravi Zacharias, a world-renowned author, speaker, and leading voice on apologetics.
Every weekend I used to listen to episodes of “Let My People Think” and “Just A Thought,” which featured the lectures, sermons, and teachings of Ravi Zacharias. His recordings were some of my favorites as a Christian who was, and still is, fascinated with biblical theology and apologetics in particular.
His insights were instrumental in the building of my faith and my understanding of Christianity. I would devour his commentary on Christianity and western society. He was one of the few leaders I actually admired for his intellect, wit, and vast knowledge. The list of people who I look up to is short, but he was one of those that I strove to be like when it came to teaching, leading, and understanding my faith.
When he passed away last year, I was heartbroken. But I was comforted by my belief that he was a leader who carried out his calling and exemplified the sentiments that the Apostle Paul expressed in 2 Timothy 4:7 when he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”
But many of us had a rude awakening that would be realized only months later.
In September 2020, Christianity Today (CT) published a report detailing the allegations of three women who accused the now-deceased founder of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). These women, who worked as massage therapists at a spa the evangelist owned, stated that he acted inappropriately with them while receiving massage treatments.
From Christianity Today:
Three women who worked at the businesses, located in a strip mall in the Atlanta suburbs, told Christianity Today that Ravi Zacharias touched them inappropriately, exposed himself, and masturbated during regular treatments over a period of about five years. His business partner said he regrets not stopping Zacharias and sent an apology text to one of the victims this month.
“He would expose himself every time, and he would touch himself every time,” one of the women said in an interview with CT. “It was where he went to get what he wanted sexually.”
The report noted that “Zacharias masturbated in front of one of the women more than 50 times, according to her recollection. He told her he was burdened by the demands of the ministry, and he needed this ‘therapy.’ He also asked her to have sex with him twice, she said, and requested explicit photos of her.”
At the time, RZIM denied the claims, insisting that the allegations of sexual misconduct “do not in any way comport with the man we knew for decades.” Still, the organization hired a law firm “with experience investigating such matters” to look into the accusations.
According to a subsequent Christianity Today article published on Feb 11, it appears the investigation revealed that Zacharias’ sexually inappropriate activities extended far beyond the three women who came forward last year. The article explained that the four-month investigation found that Zacharias “leveraged his reputation as a world-famous Christian apologist to abuse massage therapists in the United States and abroad over more than a decade while the ministry led by his family member and loyal allies failed to hold him accountable.”
RZIM released a 12-page report confirming that the apologist abused multiple women at spas he owned in the U.S. and “evidence of sexual abuse in Thailand, India, and Malaysia,” according to Christianity Today. A review of Zacharias’ old devices revealed “more than 200 massage therapists in the US and Asia and hundreds of images of young women, including some that showed the women naked.”
One of the women told investigators that “after he arranged for the ministry to provide her with financial support, he required sex from her.”
When the reports about Zacharias’ predatory conduct surfaced, it shook me to my core. To be clear, it did not affect my faith in Christ in the slightest. Indeed, one of the reasons why I don’t generally look up to Christian leaders is because I expect very little of them. When scandals involving famous preachers arise, I am rarely surprised because I view these individuals as flawed humans even though they are called to a higher standard.
But never in a million years would I have expected to be writing an article about Ravi Zacharias engaging in sexual assault.
And now, I am struggling to come to terms with how I should react. Do his misdeeds somehow abrogate the validity of Zacharias’ sermons and teaching? Of course not.
The Apostle Paul, by all accounts, was a bigoted mass murderer of Christians before he found Christ, and he wrote two thirds of the New Testament. However, it is worth noting that he repented, unlike Zacharias who was still receiving nude pictures of young women only months before his death.
But what is difficult in this regard is that I don’t think I could ever listen to his teachings ever again despite the fact that they are sound. As a father of two girls, it would be too difficult to push aside my knowledge of his actions to digest the wisdom of his words.
My rational mind says that this is a failure on my part, an inability to separate the flawed man from the gift of teaching that he clearly possessed. But then I remember what the Bible says about people in leadership: “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1)
I believe the Apostle James gave us that admonishment because of moments like these. It is one thing if a leader falls and has a momentary lapse in judgment. It is quite another when one leads a life of evil behavior ostensibly without repentance. When this happens, it is natural that people would find it difficult to benefit from their teachings. This is why it is important for those who God has placed in authority to be above reproach.
I have come to the conclusion that I cannot continue to listen to Zacharias’ sermons, and that is okay. This is why the Lord provides us with numerous teachers to give us biblical insights. After all, there are plenty of other brilliant apologists to learn form, aren’t there?
In the end, people like myself can take a lesson from this story. A leader’s transgressions should not be an impediment to the quest for a deeper faith and a more intimate understanding of the Gospel for those who are serious about pursuing both. An authentic relationship with Christ is not easily severed by the actions of one who purports to be a leader. Still, this situation demonstrates the need for greater accountability in our ministries.
Zacharias’ actions may have shaken the faith of many, especially the women he victimized. But if Christian organizations are diligent about enacting mechanisms designed to promote accountability among the Body of Christ, the Enemy will find it harder to subvert its good work. Additionally, when more of us follow Jesus’ advice to “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” (Matthew 5:16) perhaps it can outshine the darkness that exists in culture of Christianity.
Any Christian ministry that has the name of a human in its name should be looked at with a wary eye.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association?
Yes, any.
Off subject, but author Jeff Charles should know better.
He said Paul wrote over 2/3 of the New Testament. Not true, not even close.
Luke wrote more than anyone at about 24% I believe (Luke, Acts), and Paul comes in second at about 23%.
Amazing how many people state this and don’t know how wrong they are.
Ravi? Loved the guy.....sadly, no idea how to respond. His sin was grievous but will I condemn? No - I am a sinner saved by grace too. But when I depart this life I hope to leave with a clean conscience, clear with others and washed by His blood....
When this first came out last year I withheld judgement until more was known. Now RZIM has come out with a report acknowledging that Ravi’s misdeeds were serious, ongoing, and only ended when he was near death from cancer.
RE: Luke wrote more than anyone at about 24% I believe (Luke, Acts), and Paul comes in second at about 23%.
I think by that, the author was referring to the NUMBER of inspired epistles that formed part of the New Testament Canon of scripture.
Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatian, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon ( and maybe, just, maybe, Hebrews ).
That’s at least 13 of 27 or nearly half of the New Testament (not 2/3 ).
RE: The gospel they teach is false because they don’t actually know the truth.
Can you cite me an instance of the false gospel that Ravi Zacarias taught?
Cite me ANY of his teachings that is wrong or false.
NOTE: I am not excusing what he did. IT WAS WRONG and God will judge him if he did wrong, but I am interested in what you find false in what he taught.
Now this guy might have something to say about that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVyf7IITQMg
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
John 8:7 ESV
RE: Why should I have to prove the Apostle Paul right? I believe Christ, I believe His Apostles and Prophets. What more is there?
Well, in as much as Ravi Zacarias taught what St. Paul and Jesus taught, then his teachings are sound. That’s all I’m trying to say. The question is — does his sexual misconduct invalidate what he taught? In so far as what he taught was in harmony with what Jesus and the Apostles taught, the answer is NO.
It’s like asking the question - did King Solomon’s polygamy and idolatry invalidate his Psalms, Proverbs and other scriptural teachings?
Ravi’s conduct, according to the word of our Lord Jesus Christ, is no worse than any other man who has committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:28). If there’s any man here who has not done that, let him cast stones (John 8:7).
The reason Ravi Zacharias had such a successful ministry evidenced by the fruit of salvation was not because of Ravi’s personal righteousness, but because of the word of God and prayer (Mark 9:19, 29; 1 Timothy 4:5).
When any disciple of Christ sees miracles it is due to faith in Christ, not in themselves (Matthew 17:20, 21:21; Mark 9:23, 11:22). Miracles are performed in the name and righteousness of Jesus, not in the name of Ravi (Acts 3:6, 3:16, 16:18; Romans 3:22). Those who were saved because of Ravi’s ministry (and I got to personally witness one) are no less saved now that his sin is being openly discussed (1 John 1:8, 2:1).
An entire Samaritan village was saved on the testimony of one sinful adulterous woman (John 4). The power was not in the preacher, but in whom she preached.
Jesus will always get the glory, not man (John 1:14, 2:11, 11:40, 17:24; Luke 9:32; Matthew 24:30). God is extremely jealous for His Name (Exodus 34:14; Isaiah 42:8, 48:11; Ezekiel 20:9, 14).
RE: Why would I trust him to teach the truth when Paul says he doesn’t even know it?
Knowing something and living it out are two different things. Ask anyone who sins. They KNOW that they committed sin but their flesh is weak.
I asked you a question - did David’s adultery and committing murder mean that he did not have knowledge of the truth? Does 2 Timothy 3:7 apply to King David and his son Solomon?
Now if he sexually abused someone, why not bring it out years ago? If he is a sound teacher, it's the truth no matter who it comes from. Do you realize how unusual it was for Billy Graham to die un-accused?
I believe it ought to be a law that you have 5 years to file charges and then you automatically become a liar. If you don't file charges, it didn't happen.
Rd later.
And don’t forget to discard the Ten Commandments too, hand delivered by a murderer.
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