First Dr. Tony Evans then Pastor Robert Morris. This past week has been one that gave
whiplash to Christians as we heard unbelievably shocking confessions of moral failures of these
two well-respected evangelical pastors. One result of these “confessions” are numerous
questions regarding what should be the church’s response to pastoral leadership and their sin.
Like so many others, I have to admit that I’ve been riveted by the stories of both Evans and
Morris, but I was also saddened because it seemed to put an additional negative light on
Christianity which has already been rocked by abuse scandals in the Catholic church and the
Southern Baptist denomination.
I heard a pastor say years ago that the cost is higher for leaders (when they sin), and
they don’t always carry it well. She added that unless there is true repentance, there will be
even more instances of God openly judging sins of church leaders. According to her, it’s more
than God shining a light on the sinful deeds of one man. Much like the Catholic Church a few
years ago, God allows the sins of a few to be exposed so that the body of Christ can take the
steps to end compromise and openly confront sin.
For some, it appears that we are in a season where God is exposing the hypocrisy of his
leaders. The exposure isn’t intended to embarrass because our loving God always wants what
is best for us…especially when we are doing wrong. It is a chance for all who are caught in
similar situations of compromise and sin to sincerely examine their actions and
motivations…and repent of those things that are not pleasing to God.
Moreover, God is laying the groundwork for repentance, redemption, and restoration.
The biblical example of David shows how open repentance can lead to restoration but that
there are often still consequences. After all, despite the fact that David was a praiser who
earnestly sought after God’s heart through worship, he still committed sins like murder and
adultery. I’d like to think that it was that same worship and the relationship that he had with
God that gave him the assurance to know that God would restore him even after all of his
wrongdoing.
It seems once again like God is allowing the church and its ugly little secrets to be
exposed. We can’t claim to know why God is doing what he’s doing. All we can do is see that
he appears to be using the same strategy that he used in biblical times. In the end, David was
brought to repentance and ultimately restored to a place of honor and integrity. Hebrews
12:11 reminds us “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful;
nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been
trained by it.”
Regardless of our opinions of the issues that Evans and Morris, all believers should be
praying for them, his families, and their church families. It’s not so they can forget what has
happened, but so they can embrace the new beginning free from the burden of secret sin that
God is trying to give them.
Shewanda Riley is a Dallas, Texas based author of “Love Hangover: Moving from Pain to
Purpose After a Relationship Ends” and “Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart: A Book of
Prayers for Writers.” Email her at preservedbypurpose@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter
(X) @shewanda.