How Can Christians Respond to Fallen Pastors

Whenever leaders within the body of Christ fall into scandal, its damages are far-reaching to the church, the world, and ultimately to God. Nevertheless, these matters are inevitable as we live in a fallen world, which also includes an imperfect church. 

2024 has seen several prominent pastors have what you considered a "fall from grace," names such as Dr. Tony Evans of Cliffside Fellowship, Steve Lawson of Trinity Bible Church in Dallas, Robert Morris of Gateway Church, the sexual abuse scandal at Morning Star Ministries and the Daystar Television Network, respectively. Most recently, we have Dr. Michael Brown, host of the Line of Fire radio program, who recently confessed to an inappropriate relationship with a young woman, though he claims it was not sexual in nature, over 2 decades ago. These stories are merely a few among many controversies that have taken place within the body of Christ this year, let alone the past few years.

Hearing the news is devastating for the church, especially for those under their leadership and ministry. Some were shocked that this had happened because they did not see it coming. After all, pastors are to be "above reproach" (1 Timothy 3:2). This does mean perfection, but they are to be men of godly character and lead by example. Falling into grievous sin, however, can destroy whatever credibility they possess, even if they repent. Not that they shouldn't repent, but the sin that they fell into leaves them not having that same impact they once did. 

We've seen that many times with fallen pastors, whether it's someone well-known or even your own, who may preach well but ultimately do not practice what they preach. What we end up seeing is that they live a double life, compromising the very faith they profess. It is saddening news because it can lead to a breach of trust between them and the congregation, with some even switching churches or even leaving the faith altogether. Meanwhile, the world looks at stuff like this and denounces Christians for their hypocrisy, asserting this is why they would never believe in God. 

The following are steps that Christians can take in response to scandals involving faith leaders.

Prayer for Repentance

First, we pray that they will confess and repent from their sins. As the body of Christ, we intercede for one another, both fellow church members and ministers. We know that the devil wants nothing more for those whom God has called to preach to fall. But we stand firm in prayer because we leave the matter to God, who alone can forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We pray that the fallen leaders would recognize that although they have sinned against others, they have ultimately have sinned against the Lord and Him alone (Psalm 51:4). So we pray for their repentance and that God would give them a new heart and grant a steadfast spirit (Psalm 51:10). 

Don't Put Pastors on a Pedestal 

A common thread among Christians is placing pastors on a pedestal because they have been greatly impacted by their ministry. This is something that has been evident among prominent leaders with ministries extending beyond their local church. They tend to travel across the world, preaching at multiple conferences, publish books, appear on podcasts and television shows, and so forth. In recent years, you have seen the rise of what is known as "celebrity pastors" in which pastors have reached a kind of superstar status in the church as well as society at large. 

As the saying goes, "pride comes before a fall," meaning that their own arrogance and overconfidence will ultimately lead to their downfall. For those looking up to them, Christians must remember that these leaders are not superhuman; they are regular people just like everyone else. Don't let their status or platform diminish their fallibility or portray them into something they're not. We are at risk of idolatry when doing such things, which in turn, only makes the heartbreak of their downfall that much more devastating because we are blinded by our false perception of them. Don't be blinded by your own biases lest you fall into denial amid their transgressions. 

Examine Oneself

In the midst of scandals, we are to pause and ponder the state of our own souls. The fall of these leaders of the faith should remind us that we, too, are prone to fall. As the Word clearly states, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Believers must examine themselves to see how they are walking with God, if at all. Are we truly living for God, or do we use Him as a means for our own selfish gain? For the minister, are you preaching and leading the church to the glory of God or to make a name for yourself?  

Let us then, therefore, examine our souls before the Lord and let us do so throughout our lives. Let us consider where we have fallen short and repent. Let us turn back to our Heavenly Father for a "broken and contrite spirit" He will not despise (Psalm 51:17). Overall, our own weaknesses are more than enough evidence of our need for Him. Just as we need Christ for salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life, we need Him each and every day of our lives. We can't walk this walk of faith without Him because apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:4). Therefore, examine yourself, repent, and walk before the Lord in constant dependence.

Photo Credit: ©Pastor Henry Hildebrandt Twitter

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.