Along with the viral pandemic of 2020, a similar moral pandemic spelled the end of ministries known worldwide for their gospel influence. Of particular noteworthiness to me was the posthumous discovery of sexual sin in the life of Ravi Zacharias. I was devastated and heartbroken to learn that the sexual misconduct charges brought against him were, according to an intermediate report released by RZIM (Ravi Zacharias Ministries), more than credible—and that the deeper the investigation goes, the darker the discoveries appear to be.

Not only are allegations proving to be true, evidence also indicates that Ravi’s misconduct was persistent over a long period of time, premeditated, and even predatory in nature. It’s disturbing to note that even though he knew he was terminally ill, he never publicly repented or confessed to any wrongdoing. I learned this morning that the investigation’s final report will be publicized next month. It will be a tough report to read.

In the wake of Ravi’s moral failure, one of the most disappointing repercussions is the irreparable harm done to his legacy. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Antony exclaims, “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” To a great extent, that will prove true of Ravi.

The question is, how do we sort out the good from the bad? How do we appreciate the wonderful ministry God gave him while detesting the sin that stained not just his personal life but an international ministry? How do we process the moral failure of Christian leaders? Over the years, I’ve seen it happen many times, and though it’s always painfully sad, I’ve learned to sort it out in the following ways.

1. Take it to the Lord in Prayer

Should not prayer always be our first resort when leaders fall? Before discussing it with others, we should fall on our knees before the throne of grace and bring our hurt, disappointment, and disillusion to Him who never disappoints, never fails, and who is absolutely holy and good. We should pray for the families involved, pray for the victims, and for the cause of Jesus to triumph despite man’s failure.

Pray for the ministry that has suffered untold injury. Pray that God will give those left in charge wisdom and guidance. In the case of RZIM, I pray the work will go on even though I’ve heard one report that the entire ministry will soon cease. Pray that a new, stronger, and greater ministry will rise from the ashes to shine the light of truth to this world.

2. Maintain a Biblical Perspective

First, we need to focus on Jesus. He is our standard, and He will never fail us. One of the verses that has sustained me through the years is Hebrews 12:3, which says, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Keep your eyes on Jesus, he is the God-Man, absolutely pure, totally faithful, and always there for us.

Second, we need to understand that the root of the problem is the same for all of us. Even the best men are men at best. As the country preacher put it, “flesh is flesh no matter whose bones it’s stretched over.” Don’t allow cynicism into your heart. Don’t become disillusioned by any man’s failure. Remember that the human “heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9)

A biblical perspective perceives our own need for God’s grace on a daily basis. It acknowledges that, but for the grace of God, we are capable of any sin. Be grateful it was not you who failed, but be humbled by the fact that it could have been.

3. Commit to a Life of Integrity

Every Christian should strive to be a person of integrity. That means all of us must seek to be honest, transparent, and consistent in our Christian testimony. Let the prayer of the Psalmist be our prayer, “May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.” (Psalm 25:21)

Overnight, ministries that took years to establish can come tumbling down. The scandals that constantly plague the church call for Christian leaders at every level to be held to a higher standard. It calls for structures of accountability to be put in place to ensure, as much as possible, a reputation for godliness.

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Finally, if you’ve had a hard time sorting through the moral failure of Christian leaders, I want to recommend Gene Edwards’ excellent book, A Tale of Three Kings, where he powerfully traces the lives of Saul, David, and Absalom. It’s a book about power and brokenness. It certainly helped me to make sense of some very painful episodes in my own Christian walk. It helped me that God has his own reasons for giving men great power and huge influence.

As Edwards says, “Keep in mind that some who have been given the very power of God have raised armies, defeated the enemy, brought forth mighty works of God, preached and prophesied with unparalleled power and eloquence . . . And thrown spears, And hated other people, And attacked others, And plotted to kill, And prophesied naked, And even consulted witches.”