What can we learn from the Ravi Zacharias scandal?

In the defence of the faith, God has raised up significant men and women who have been recognised as great apologists, such as C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer and Amy Orr-Ewing. Their teaching, writing, and even their lifestyle, offers a ‘word back’ to Christianity’s critics.

Sadly, we all have our failings. Sometimes we make mistakes, sometimes we deliberately sin. Many of us have been deeply saddened by the unravelling of one recent apologist’s life story as investigations have been launched into his financial dealings, personal relationships and dubious academic credentials. Ravi Zacharias was a popular and persuasive communicator, but even an interim report from an ongoing investigation has acknowledged very serious issues of abuse and immoral behaviour. As Christians we are grieved for the impact on victims and appalled at the dishonouring of God’s name.

Truth matters and sin demands repentance. Any of us complicit in ignoring what was troubling us in any church, pastorate or ministry should rightly feel ashamed. Such failings give unbelievers another reason to dismiss the Christian faith and undermine the credibility of good work done. Furthermore, it will have permitted time for further harm to be done to those who were victims.

Lessons, not gossip

While we should avoid unnecessary gossip as the fallout continues, there are lessons to learn. We are reminded of the need for accountability – and international celebrity are no grounds to be excused this. We are also warned never to place anyone on a pedestal.

There is no need to be surprised at any of this. Christians fail. In fact, during 2020 we have had a number of stories to deal with of pastors, theologians, worship leaders and Christian celebrities who have either walked away from their faith or had failure exposed. I have had to rewrite lecture notes and bibliographies in my college teaching to take into account the way someone will be perceived in years to come. Some books are better removed than perpetuate embarrassment. Sadly, a lot of Christian books have had to be pulped in recent months.

But what can we learn from these circumstances and how should our apologetics be shaped by those lessons? I suggest that we avoid allowing celebrity culture creep into our churches. It always seems like a bad idea to name a ministry after a man (and it is usually a man, isn’t it?). As a ministry grows, its burgeoning financial requirements put more and more pressure on idolising that individual and not pointing out when the emperor is wearing no clothes.

Lutherans and Calvinists

It is interesting that it was Martin Luther’s critics that called his followers ‘Lutherans’, not Luther himself (his followers preferred to be called ‘evangelicals’). John Calvin’s word of choice was ‘Reformed’, it was others who labelled his followers Calvinists. Wesley and Whitefield inspired a movement called ‘Methodism’. C.S. Lewis, avoiding denominational labels like the plague, preferred to describe his faith as ‘Mere Christianity.’ When Francis Schaeffer stepped out in faith to launch a movement that would shape evangelical apologetics he called it ‘L’Abri’ (French for ‘the shelter’) and created a financial model that was more about trust in God than public giving campaigns.

Luther, Calvin, Whitefield, Lewis and Schaeffer all had their failings in different ways. While none were guilty of the newspaper headline scandals we have had to deal with in 2020, their common humanity left them vulnerable. Anyone who loves the work of Martin Luther should wince to read his anti-Semitic diatribes.

But the message of these great pioneers of the faith remains intact. We don’t need to defend everything about them. Paul knew the temptation to adore celebrities instead of Christ and warned against it (1 Cor. 1:12). In our own age of instant stardom and global connectivity it is even more pressing to take that warning to heart.