Thoughts on Ravi Zacharias and other “men who fell morally”
Thoughts on Ravi Zacharias and other “men who fell morally”
by Pastor Eric Anderson
One Cliché of defeatism in an emasculated culture is said whenever a high-profile Christian has a moral failure. It is that “every man could do this”…and we must not think this way. I actually hate this statement because it is not true.
No, not every man could do this. No one wakes up one day, in their right thinking does this. No man decides one day to destroy his and other’s lives. the Moral failure final step of wrong thinking, the already compromised man
Morality is and either/or, it is also a from/to. Are you moving to righteousness or from it? Are you moving towards worldliness and carnal lusts or mortifying them?
I read one time an article which I used to have tacked on to the wall of my office an interview with Gordon MacDonald, regarding his affair. He said that at the time of his adulterous sin, He was “weary in body and spirit,” and “Lacking mutual accountability in his life.
Men who are acting like men and abiding in the Lord are strengthening themselves against sexual or other life-destroying sins. Men who are disciplined in their sleep and work and exercise habits. Men who make meaningful conversations with other men. Men who converse with their wives. Men who are careful on the internet. Men who abide and pray daily. Men who prioritize church and don’t make sports or hunting more important. Men who desire to learn the truth and discern error. Men who are neither scared, flirty or resentful of women. Men who can talk about personal humility and have anecdotal stories of corresponding change and answered prayer when they repent. Men who are not given over to gaming. Men who offer to help others.
In Summary, Men who realize their great weakness, humble themselves before a Holy God, and through habitual repentance, access the regular means of growth in holiness and defense against destructive sin patterns.
Proverbs 5:1-21 actually describes Adultery as a sin but also as a path of compromise with the actual adultery as the final step. Many years ago I served under a pastor who we found out was living a double life. We saw all the signs and confronted him regarding the white “lies” and weird work habits he had. He had many opportunities to humble himself at the “red flags’ but never did. He would not repent. He came to love, to need his sins and lusts. His life finally caught up with his careless and wicked investments. He hated God’s law and loved his own sin. The signs were there. His downfall started when he refused to repent of the “little sins.”
This must not be, this need not be. This is not to be.
The Gospel declares that Christ Jesus is both our savior and Lord. We give him our obedience daily and we do not become the “everyman” who sins greatly.
Take hope and access the real and regular means of grace.
Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
