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“Be sure your sins will find you.”
This verse, found in the Old Testament in the book of Numbers, is part of Moses’ conversation with the leaders of two of Israel’s tribes who decided to settle before crossing the Jordan in their conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land. The other tribes were getting ready to move into the new territory, but two tribes decided not to join them. As a compromise, they vowed to fight side by side with the remaining tribes and help them conquer Canaan.
Their proposal was fair and generous. Moses thus granted their request, trusting that they would fulfill their promise, and blessed their desire to settle on that side of the Jordan. But with the blessing, he warns them of the dangers of breaking their vow: “If you fail, you sin against the Lord, and not against your brethren only, and be sure your sin will find you out (…)”
Moses’ words in the context were meant as a warning against breaking a promise made before God, but the principle certainly applies to the secret lives that many people live. In the New Testament, Jesus addressed the issue in one of his parables:
“For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”
Through the years, we have witnessed the rise and fall of many influential spiritual leaders, eventually exposed by the depth of their sins. From church leaders caught in adultery to cases of sexual abuse, to infamous claims of financial fraud, men and women of apparent irreproachable conduct managed to live a lie for many years. They continued gracing their pulpits or proudly serving their church while living a double life. They lift their hands high in praise to a God who has long turned his face from them because of their counterfeit faith and unrepentant deception.
In the past several months, we have witnessed it happen again, as the secret life of one of the greatest apologists of all times, Ravi Zacharias, was exposed in sordid details. In 2017, an allegation of sexual misconduct by a Canadian woman, Lori Anne Thompson, ended in Zacharias suing Thompson and her husband for racketeering. For the most part, the public buried the subject and believed the legendary Christian leader.
In the meantime, investigations into the accusations continued after Zacharias’ death in May 2020, as more witnesses came forward, exposing Zacharias’ double life. Last week, the Atlanta law firm Miller & Martin, hired by RZIM, Zacharias’ ministry, released its final report of the independent investigation conducted into the leader’s behavior.
The findings are sickening. Zacharias went to the grave honored as a man of great faith and exemplary behavior. Still, the investigations unveiled a web of deceitful conduct, confirming the victims’ allegations that the leader had engaged in serious acts of sexual misconduct, including “sexting, unwanted touching, spiritual abuse, and rape.”
When he died in May, the Christian world celebrated his legacy with deference and gratitude. I wrote a column for this paper in his honor, as did many other writers worldwide. We did not know the truth about his dark side, hidden behind his powerful and enlightening messages.
But God knew the truth, and Zacharias should have known better: His sin indeed found him, just as God promises in his word. And even though he is not here to face the victims, family, and those who looked up to him for spiritual direction, make no mistake, he will certainly answer for every bit of evil he has done. And the judgment will be more somber than any lawsuit on earth.
Ravi Zacharias’ life story is heartbreaking and eye-opening. Even though the messages he preached and his teachings remain relevant, inspiring, and filled with truth, his legacy is blemished beyond repair. The irrevocable pain that he caused victims and his family will forever rest on his shoulder. And his life’s work, ever-relevant as it still is, will forever bear the stain of his sin.
What a tragedy! May we ponder this sad story as an example to encourage us to repent of our sins, lest pleasure and disregard of our actions’ consequences destroy the legacy we work so hard to build. May we remember that everything done in darkness will undoubtedly be revealed and come to light. It’s just a matter of time.
This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Jornal-Constitution on Saturday, February 27, 2021. Click HERE to read it on the AJC’s website.
Dear God, what causes us, and remember I say us, to do the things that we do. The Bible says their is not one good man or woman on this earth, not one. I am so sorry to read about Ravi, I followed his teaching on the internet, and would never thought anything else, but that he is a man of God. I am so disappointed to read about it, may his family find peace. Blessings
I think we forget that every pastor, deacon, bishop, lay leader in our churches are not perfect. There was one perfect, blameless person and His name was Jesus. I speak from experience. I was a pastor’s wife for 30+ years and my husband chose a different path. His sin found him out, and his sin(s) now will find him out. None of us are perfect…no not one (Romans). I’ve heard it said, “The higher we place someone on a pedestal, the farther they have to fall.” Every preacher in every pulpit has their “stuff” they deal with…. some hide it better than others. Why am I saying all of this? Possibly to shed light on the sin-sickness that our pulpits are weighed down with on a daily basis. Possibly just to vent. I too thought the world of Ravi. I even purchased an apologetics Bible because of him. At the end of the day he was just a man. He put his pants on the same way we do…one leg at a time.
I agree with your synopsis as I am also a former 1st Lady, divorced my Pastor husband. I learned through the spirit beforehand how mankind has a tendency to mold flesh & blood into idols while choosing to forget that we all fall short. Accolades are one thing. Idol worship is another. The Word of God instructs us “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15. The public doesn’t see what happens behind closed doors. Nonetheless, God does. We must remember that during each day that we’re graced to live.
Well said. Bless you my sister in Christ!
Ladies, I am sorry for your pain. And perhaps, could be possible that through closed doors you saw something sometime that you question, but perhaps did not have the courage to say so? If that is the case, maybe the “help mate” needs to step up and denounce what is going on behind doors… Selah!
May GOD continue to bless you and all the others that have suffered double, as a minister wife (for all the sacrifice you know you had to do!) and then suffer the shame of a betrayal that came from the one you never expect so…
Such heartbreaking news, Patricia, and a reminder to all of us to live our lives in ways that please God alone.
Blessings!
Yes, Patricia, thank you for this article…What ever IS hidden God WILL reveal! Last October, I learned of Ravi’s great abuses and waywardness from what God had called him to do. I am broken hearted for all his victims who were hushed for so long because of his “reputation.” We live in an evil age where even 80-90% of Christian men struggle with pornography’s many
temptations, because they find it their “release ” from the stressors affecting their lives. (What ever happened to running to our Lord Jesus for strength to withstand the wiles of the enemy?!! )
Outwardly, these narcissistic-type men, seem like such great guys and quite the charismatic Christian, but behind closed doors they often abuse their wives. If she seeks help from the abuse, no one believes her. This type of narcissist usually comes out of childhood abuse, without godly counsel and wound-healing; pornography only aggravates their cyclical abuse. I was with my ex- husband for close to 38 years. He was a professing Christian, who pulled the wool over many people’s eyes including some of my so called ” best” friends. Before we divorced, the Lord uncovered the fact that he had already met someone else and immediately remarried to continue his deception and to save himself out of a financial conundrum. In the meantime, he left a godly wife and two adult children in the wake of his abuse. We are all healing from years of heartache with him, but we are thankful we can depend on our Great Physician, our Jehovah Rapha who has never abandoned us.
The fact remains that narcissistic men, like the Ravis out there, keep excusing their own behavior, while refusing accountability and counsel. They continue in their incredible manipulations, gaslighting and triangulation of others, and manage their deceptive living, while their victims are left bleeding by the side of the road!
May God do miracles of healing for the victims of Ravi’s destruction, including his family and those who ministered along side him in the organization. May they realize they are not alone in their sufferings. May they run to Jesus Who understands all of our sufferings in this life, as He took the whole world’s sin and mental anguish on the cross!
Thank you, Patricia, for allowing me to share my testimony. I hope and pray that many women will hear my great compassion for their suffering and will be encouraged to let the Lord carry them step by step through their own healing journey. God is always faithful and He “will never leave us or forsake us!”
Patricia, I appreciated your sharing. I enjoyed Ravi’s preaching. We each have to be accountable to God. May each take care of the junk in our lives and be clean before Him.
May He be given glory!
Amen, Vivian! Anyone can fall. We all have weaknesses and we need to be aware of them.