Christian Leaders and Moral Failure

I'm not sure I'm qualified to write this blog. I'm not even sure that after I'm finished I'll be satisfied with what I've said. This will be a complete rambling of my initial thoughts and I'll probably delete it later. However it was on my mind considering the recent apology issued from Christian artist, Da Truth regarding his recent "moral failure" causing him to step down from his music ministry and go into a restoration phase to get himself back together. I am awful confused as to why so many Christian leaders are biting the infidelity dust. It really does remind me of the Queen song, "and another one gone and another one gone, another one bites the bust!" Now, I'll say this first. This post will not be a slam on Da Truth, or any other person, just some general thoughts:

1. Defining Moral Failure By Sexual Indiscretion: Whenever some Christian leader is sat down, the term "moral failure" is generally volleyed around. Yesterday I asked a few people, what is moral failure and the answers I got all were "usually some sort of sexual indiscretion." I believe that is part of the problem. Perhaps they've been led to believe that other moral failings don't matter as long as it's not sex, therefore they allow the small foxes to go unchecked meanwhile those same "small indiscretions" are steadily snowballing into the avalanche that eventually derails them and ultimately embarrasses them publicly.

And the public embarrassment is the part that bothers me the most because it shows that people don't necessarily have any private accountability. They are only concerned if they are "caught or found out." It's as if God is not real to them. As if when they were in the booth, in the back, in the corner and in the dark that the Holy Sprit did not follow them there. Perhaps the standard should be set higher than sex for a leader in particular. This is why I commend Kirk Franklin years ago for getting help for his pornography addiction. He did not necessarily have to come out and tell us about it. He was only obligated to tell his wife, but he realized that a struggle between he and his computer screen was too an issue.

There are all sorts of areas of compromise that are out there beyond sex, and those issues are just as much an issue as sex. I guess I am trying to say, by the time you've reached the act of sexual expression outside of the covenant marriage you've already passed a few other stop signs of compromise to get there that went unchecked and should have been dealt with.

2. Setting Up SafeGuards: I'll admit I was real disappointed a few months back when I read an article by Shaun King (pastor of Courageous Church) about "Drastic Measures To Avoid Moral Failure." I was proud of Shaun, but disappointed with the readers who commented that he was over-reacting. I feel like Shaun was doing the right thing. The Bible tells us not to put any confidence in the flesh. One scripture that I always revert back to is 1 Corinthians 10:12 which says, "Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall" meaning even if you think you've got it together, be careful because resting on your past ability to fight temptations could catch you slipping. That same verse in the Message translation reads like this

"Don't be so naive and self confident. You are not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence, it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence"

Safeguards are important for leaders. It is also important for those around those leaders to respect the safeguards that they have in place. When leaders signed up to be a leader that meant that the standard was raised for them and are held to the strictest standards. (James 3:1) However, non-leaders, the same thing you expect from your leader you should carry out in your own life because you answer to the same God.

3. Birds of A Feather...: You've heard the saying that birds of a feather flock together. That's a biblical concept. Who you hang around generally can shape your worldview and "moral vision." It doesn't surprise me that Da T.R.U.T.H was the third artist from Cross Movement Records to be dismissed for infidelity. They failed each other as accountability partners, instead they may have been covering for one another. Who knows. (1 Corinthians 15:33 says that bad company corrupts good morals.)

4. Learn Vicariously: All that being said. Do I believe that Da T.R.U.T.H. can recover? Of course. Should we pray for him to get better and restored? Absolutely. Does the Bible tell us how to handle situations like that? Yes, and the Bible is clear on doing it in love. But here is the lesson for leaders. Learn vicariously through the mistake of others. If you've been in some type of compromise, you've been under grace and mercy. Turn around. Be a person of integrity.

- The area in your life you fail to deal with, could be responsible for your downfall

- The area of character you refuse to develop is the open door you fail fo close to the devil.

That was my rant. Hope it made sense. What do you think? I'm interested in your comments.

Definition of moral failure: an event that does not accomplish the intended purpose of conforming to the standards, behavior and character based on the principles of right and wrong.