“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one” (1 Corinthians 5:11).
He was considered by many to be one of best evangelical expositors of the twentieth and twenty first centuries. Ravi Zacharias was an Indian-born Canadian-American Christian apologist who founded the RZIM. He was involved in Christian apologetics for a period spanning more than 40 years.
He had spoken in hundreds of churches and at hundreds of conferences around the world. Thousands of people were influenced by his preaching. Even I was when he graced the pulpit in my home church. Many considered him to be the most significant Christian apologist of modern times.
But, after his death from cancer a year ago, it became apparent that there was another Ravi Zacharias. Following his demise, dozens of women came forward to tell of their abuse. His ministry board engaged a law firm to do a complete investigation and the results were astounding. He had been leading a double life.
Mr. Zacharias had been living a lie; engaging in molestation, sexual sin, and even rape- on several continents and with many women. He turned out to be a perverted deviant, and not just lately for a short period, but a long time. In fact, Ravi seemed to have chosen his type of business (spa/massage) for this reason and had seemed to have structured his business operations with the intention of perpetuating then hiding his craven sin. His sexual sins also included other sins of misuse of ministry funds to support his sex partners, and of course, lies and hypocrisy.
How do or should we as Christians respond? Witnessing the fall of someone we greatly admire elicits deep, painful emotions. We feel betrayed by them and embarrassed that we trusted them. The more public our faith in them, the more public our shame and the deeper our anger. We wonder if there is anyone we can truly trust. If they were part of a larger movement, that movement’s reputation is disgraced along with them.
And remember that sin always affects the innocent. Satan loves to use one sin to destroy as many lives as he can. The next time you are tempted with “private” sin, remember the victims of Ravi Zacharias’ sins. The women he abused will never forget their pain, and his family and colleagues are shamed and grieving as well.
The next time you are tempted by “private” sin, see this temptation as bait in a cage. And know that its consequences will be far worse than its rewards for you and everyone who knows you. I will repeat a statement I have made often over the years: sin will always take you further than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay. Always.
Before we judge Zacharias, we much remember if this could happen to Ravi Zacharias, it can happen to any of us. None of us are exempt from Satan’s bait.
Be always on guard, for the trap is set for you.
We can never sin alone. Our sin grows and ultimately affects the whole church. Private sin needs private confession. Public sin requires public confession. —Dana Hardee
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
Basic Safety at Home
1. If you have a security system – use it!
2. Never open your door to a stranger.
3. Never tell anyone you are home alone.
4. Keep you home well-lighted at all times – inside and out.
5. Keep windows and doors locked.
6. Keep shrubs around your home well trimmed.
7. New home or apartment? – have ALL locks rekeyed ASAP.
8. Never hide a door key under a mat, flowerpot or mailbox.
9. Lock your doors whenever you are in the yard or garage.
10. Take a cordless phone or your cell phone with you when you work in the yard.
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General Awareness and Mindset
1. Stay alert anytime you are outside your home.
2. Walk with eyes up, looking around you at all times, not looking down at or talking on your cell phone.
3. Maintain your personal space in public.
4. Check behind you periodically.
5. Look for anything in the immediate area that looks out of place, out of context, or “just not right”.
6. Mindset: “I won’t be a victim!”
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C. S. Lewis, from his book, “God in the Dock,” offers this interesting bit of dialogue regarding prayer. “Praying for particular things,” said I, “always seems to me like advising God how to run the world. Wouldn’t it be wiser to assume that He knows best?”
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
We can never sin alone. Our sin grows and ultimately affects the whole church. Private sin needs private confession. Public sin requires public confession. —Dana Hardee
I should live in constant preparedness for eternity. Dan Shock
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. WINSTON CHURCHILL
When you fail to surrender, you’re really saying, “I know better than God.” And only a fool would think that. Dan Shock
In running from God’s will, we run into things we should be afraid of. Ken Whitten
Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends? ABRAHAM LINCOLN
If God is the one “who gives you the ability to produce wealth,” then He gets to dictate what we do with financial excess, whether it’s abundance from a paycheck or profit from a business. Jordan Raynor
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. WALTER ELLIOTT