Every single week for years now, another heartbreaking story fills the headlines. Another pastor. Another youth leader. Another trusted church worker. Another child victimized. Another congregation left in shock.
Tragically, these stories are not confined to one denomination or one movement. They have surfaced across churches of nearly every theological stripe. No group is completely immune. Every time another leader is exposed, another church is devastated, another family's trust is shattered, and another obstacle is placed in the path of people who desperately need Christ.
This past Friday, however, one particular case involved my own brethren. A well-known preacher within Independent Fundamental Baptist circles was arrested, charged, and admitted to committing horrific crimes. Like so many others, I have felt a mixture of anger, disgust, and grief. But more than anything else, I am deeply burdened for the youngsters who have been violated and for the countless others who have had their trust shattered.
As I have prayerfully thought about this over the past several days, one question continues to trouble me.
Why do churches continue to be blindsided by predatory wolves in sheep's clothing? Why are churches across America repeatedly discovering that trusted leaders were secretly victimizing youth?
This is not an isolated problem. Sadly, there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of cases throughout Christianity during my adult life. I could write an entire book addressing why this continues to happen. In fact, years ago I helped co-author a book dealing with sexual exploitation titled Voices Against Sex Slavery in America. I strongly recommend you get a copy to help protect you and your loved ones.
There is so much that could be said about this tragedy, but briefly, I believe there are three primary reasons churches continue to be deceived by predatory wolves.
The first reason is that we have become personality-driven instead of Bible-driven.
Years before these crimes came to light, this preacher began making significant changes to his philosophy of ministry. His convictions regarding biblical music changed. His preaching style increasingly reflected the emotional techniques of his newfound apostolic influences. His methods changed in other ways as well. Yet despite those noticeable changes, many fundamental Baptist churches continued inviting him to preach, especially to young people.
Please understand, I am not saying his change in music or preaching style caused him to become a sexual predator. Absolutely not. That is not my point. My concern goes far beyond differences over music or ministry style. What troubles me is how easily churches overlook biblical qualifications when someone is gifted, popular, and successful.
Today, many of our churches often judge a preacher by how dynamic he is, how funny he is, how many people respond to his invitations, or how many followers he has. We are impressed by charisma. But God is impressed by character.
Thankfully, God did not leave the qualifications for spiritual leadership to our opinions or preferences. He clearly defined them in His Word. Through the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit clearly laid out the qualifications for spiritual leadership in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. And charisma never made the list. He did not say a preacher must be dynamic, an engaging storyteller, or capable of drawing large crowds. Instead, he described a man whose private life matched his public ministry. A man who rules his own house well. A man who is vigilant, sober, patient, blameless, hospitable, and of good report. God deliberately emphasized character because giftedness may build a crowd, but only godly character protects the church and brings God's blessing.
Yet when churches plan conferences or youth rallies, those are rarely the questions being asked. We don't ask, "Who has demonstrated years of faithfulness?" We don't ask, "Who is known for humility?" We don't ask, "Whose family best reflects biblical leadership?" Instead, we ask, "Who is drawing the biggest crowds? Who is the most exciting speaker? Who will keep teenagers entertained?"
That is dangerous because personality has a way of making people overlook what they should be examining. The more talented a man becomes, the easier it is to assume he must also be godly. Eventually, his influence becomes so great that people stop evaluating him by Scripture and begin defending him simply because of who he is. At that moment, a church has ceased following biblical qualifications and has begun following personalities.
But how did we get here?
I believe it is because our churches have become spiritually lean. And I’m not talking about attendance or finances; I’m talking about biblical strength.
Many preachers no longer spend the hours necessary to immerse themselves in God's Word and cultivate a close walk with Him. As a result, many sermons have become spiritually lean. A thirty-minute message may contain five minutes of Scripture and twenty-five minutes of stories, commentary, humor, and personal opinions. People leave encouraged, entertained, and emotionally stirred, but they leave without having feasted upon God's Word.
You cannot feed sheep on illustrations.
The writer of Hebrews rebuked believers because they had failed to mature spiritually. Mature believers, he said in Hebrews 5, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Discernment is not a spiritual gift given to a select few. It is the natural result of regularly feeding upon God's Word.
When Christians are spiritually lean, they become spiritually weak. They lose the ability to recognize error. They cannot distinguish biblical conviction from emotional manipulation. They confuse passion with holiness, confidence with authority, and gifted speaking with godly living. They are impressed by delivery because they no longer know enough Bible to evaluate the message itself.
But that raises another question. How did our churches become so spiritually lean? I believe the answer is that both the pulpit and the pew have lost their appetite for God's Word.
Paul warned Timothy that a day would come when people would not endure sound doctrine but would heap to themselves teachers having itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3-4). We usually apply that verse to television preachers who openly deny biblical truth. But I believe it reaches much closer to home.
Many people sitting in churches simply no longer desire rich biblical preaching. They prefer messages that are humorous, emotional, fast-paced, and easy to digest. They want to feel inspired more than they want to be confronted. They want motivation more than transformation.
Sadly, many preachers have adapted to that very appetite. They no longer hunger to spend long hours searching the Scriptures because the people they preach to no longer hunger to hear them.
The result is predictable. When congregations stop craving God's Word, far too many preachers adapt to satisfy the appetite of the audience. Entertainment replaces exposition. Stories replace Scripture. Personality replaces substance. Before long, churches become filled with people who can recognize a talented speaker but cannot recognize a biblically qualified preacher.
Do you see how these three problems are connected?
When people are no longer hungry for biblical truth, preachers stop digging deeply into God's Word. As pulpits become spiritually lean, congregations lose biblical discernment. Once discernment is lost, personality naturally becomes more important than character. And when personality is prized above godly character, wolves find it much easier to hide among the sheep.
That is exactly where many churches find themselves today.
The greatest tragedy is not simply that another prominent preacher has been caught in appalling sin. The greatest tragedy is the child whose innocence has been stolen, the family that now struggles to trust again, the young person who wonders whether any preacher can be believed, and the unbeliever who points to another scandal as proof that Christianity is nothing more than hypocrisy.
Those realities should drive us back to our knees before God and back to His Holy Bible.
We do not need bigger personalities. We do not need more talented communicators. We do not need trendier conferences or more entertaining services.
We need churches that once again value biblical qualifications more than popularity, biblical preaching more than performance, and biblical truth more than personality.
Jesus warned us that ravening wolves would come in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). The question has never been whether wolves exist. The question is whether Christ's church will once again become so grounded in His Word that the wolves can no longer hide among the sheep.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
Tragically, these stories are not confined to one denomination or one movement. They have surfaced across churches of nearly every theological stripe. No group is completely immune. Every time another leader is exposed, another church is devastated, another family's trust is shattered, and another obstacle is placed in the path of people who desperately need Christ.
This past Friday, however, one particular case involved my own brethren. A well-known preacher within Independent Fundamental Baptist circles was arrested, charged, and admitted to committing horrific crimes. Like so many others, I have felt a mixture of anger, disgust, and grief. But more than anything else, I am deeply burdened for the youngsters who have been violated and for the countless others who have had their trust shattered.
As I have prayerfully thought about this over the past several days, one question continues to trouble me.
Why do churches continue to be blindsided by predatory wolves in sheep's clothing? Why are churches across America repeatedly discovering that trusted leaders were secretly victimizing youth?
This is not an isolated problem. Sadly, there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of cases throughout Christianity during my adult life. I could write an entire book addressing why this continues to happen. In fact, years ago I helped co-author a book dealing with sexual exploitation titled Voices Against Sex Slavery in America. I strongly recommend you get a copy to help protect you and your loved ones.
There is so much that could be said about this tragedy, but briefly, I believe there are three primary reasons churches continue to be deceived by predatory wolves.
The first reason is that we have become personality-driven instead of Bible-driven.
Years before these crimes came to light, this preacher began making significant changes to his philosophy of ministry. His convictions regarding biblical music changed. His preaching style increasingly reflected the emotional techniques of his newfound apostolic influences. His methods changed in other ways as well. Yet despite those noticeable changes, many fundamental Baptist churches continued inviting him to preach, especially to young people.
Please understand, I am not saying his change in music or preaching style caused him to become a sexual predator. Absolutely not. That is not my point. My concern goes far beyond differences over music or ministry style. What troubles me is how easily churches overlook biblical qualifications when someone is gifted, popular, and successful.
Today, many of our churches often judge a preacher by how dynamic he is, how funny he is, how many people respond to his invitations, or how many followers he has. We are impressed by charisma. But God is impressed by character.
Thankfully, God did not leave the qualifications for spiritual leadership to our opinions or preferences. He clearly defined them in His Word. Through the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit clearly laid out the qualifications for spiritual leadership in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. And charisma never made the list. He did not say a preacher must be dynamic, an engaging storyteller, or capable of drawing large crowds. Instead, he described a man whose private life matched his public ministry. A man who rules his own house well. A man who is vigilant, sober, patient, blameless, hospitable, and of good report. God deliberately emphasized character because giftedness may build a crowd, but only godly character protects the church and brings God's blessing.
Yet when churches plan conferences or youth rallies, those are rarely the questions being asked. We don't ask, "Who has demonstrated years of faithfulness?" We don't ask, "Who is known for humility?" We don't ask, "Whose family best reflects biblical leadership?" Instead, we ask, "Who is drawing the biggest crowds? Who is the most exciting speaker? Who will keep teenagers entertained?"
That is dangerous because personality has a way of making people overlook what they should be examining. The more talented a man becomes, the easier it is to assume he must also be godly. Eventually, his influence becomes so great that people stop evaluating him by Scripture and begin defending him simply because of who he is. At that moment, a church has ceased following biblical qualifications and has begun following personalities.
But how did we get here?
I believe it is because our churches have become spiritually lean. And I’m not talking about attendance or finances; I’m talking about biblical strength.
Many preachers no longer spend the hours necessary to immerse themselves in God's Word and cultivate a close walk with Him. As a result, many sermons have become spiritually lean. A thirty-minute message may contain five minutes of Scripture and twenty-five minutes of stories, commentary, humor, and personal opinions. People leave encouraged, entertained, and emotionally stirred, but they leave without having feasted upon God's Word.
You cannot feed sheep on illustrations.
The writer of Hebrews rebuked believers because they had failed to mature spiritually. Mature believers, he said in Hebrews 5, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Discernment is not a spiritual gift given to a select few. It is the natural result of regularly feeding upon God's Word.
When Christians are spiritually lean, they become spiritually weak. They lose the ability to recognize error. They cannot distinguish biblical conviction from emotional manipulation. They confuse passion with holiness, confidence with authority, and gifted speaking with godly living. They are impressed by delivery because they no longer know enough Bible to evaluate the message itself.
But that raises another question. How did our churches become so spiritually lean? I believe the answer is that both the pulpit and the pew have lost their appetite for God's Word.
Paul warned Timothy that a day would come when people would not endure sound doctrine but would heap to themselves teachers having itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3-4). We usually apply that verse to television preachers who openly deny biblical truth. But I believe it reaches much closer to home.
Many people sitting in churches simply no longer desire rich biblical preaching. They prefer messages that are humorous, emotional, fast-paced, and easy to digest. They want to feel inspired more than they want to be confronted. They want motivation more than transformation.
Sadly, many preachers have adapted to that very appetite. They no longer hunger to spend long hours searching the Scriptures because the people they preach to no longer hunger to hear them.
The result is predictable. When congregations stop craving God's Word, far too many preachers adapt to satisfy the appetite of the audience. Entertainment replaces exposition. Stories replace Scripture. Personality replaces substance. Before long, churches become filled with people who can recognize a talented speaker but cannot recognize a biblically qualified preacher.
Do you see how these three problems are connected?
When people are no longer hungry for biblical truth, preachers stop digging deeply into God's Word. As pulpits become spiritually lean, congregations lose biblical discernment. Once discernment is lost, personality naturally becomes more important than character. And when personality is prized above godly character, wolves find it much easier to hide among the sheep.
That is exactly where many churches find themselves today.
The greatest tragedy is not simply that another prominent preacher has been caught in appalling sin. The greatest tragedy is the child whose innocence has been stolen, the family that now struggles to trust again, the young person who wonders whether any preacher can be believed, and the unbeliever who points to another scandal as proof that Christianity is nothing more than hypocrisy.
Those realities should drive us back to our knees before God and back to His Holy Bible.
We do not need bigger personalities. We do not need more talented communicators. We do not need trendier conferences or more entertaining services.
We need churches that once again value biblical qualifications more than popularity, biblical preaching more than performance, and biblical truth more than personality.
Jesus warned us that ravening wolves would come in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). The question has never been whether wolves exist. The question is whether Christ's church will once again become so grounded in His Word that the wolves can no longer hide among the sheep.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
