Once in a while, or more than once in a while, we hear about alarming allegations against church leaders. Some of these we respect, or used to respect, and others we do not much care for in the first place. Whether the allegations involve spiritual abuse, financial misconduct, sexual molestation or other things, there are usually several issues to consider.

Apostasy. Whenever a scandal breaks out against a minister, a number of people become disillusioned and either slacken in their commitment to their religion, or abandon it altogether. Somehow the sin of a leader is taken as evidence that the Christian faith itself is false. These must be some of the stupidest people in the world. It is likely that their faith has never been associated with the proper object, Jesus Christ. Instead, they have put their hope on the leader, on the church, on other believers, or on the feeling of security and comfort that they derive from being a member of the community. We claim that our faith is in God and not men. Scandals test this profession to reveal the true nature and object of our worship.

Hypocrisy. It is said that Christians are hypocritical. A hypocrite is a person who claims to be someone that he is not, or who says he will do one thing but does something different. Even a murderous psychopath is not a hypocrite if he keeps slaughtering people. Hypocrisy is a specific charge, and does not apply to every person who does something wrong. It refers to an inconsistency between the claim and the truth. That said, Christians not only admit that they are imperfect, but they insist that they continue to sin, and sin often. They are not happy about this, and by the grace and power of God, they strive to put off the old man and put on the new man, to put on Jesus Christ. But the basis for this admission and this attitude is the very moral standard that Christians proclaim to the non-Christians. So where is the hypocrisy, if when Christians sin, they do exactly what they tell the world would happen?

Identity. One important point about church scandals is that many of the fallen leaders are in fact non-Christians. Anyone can say that he is a Christian, but does he fit the definition of a Christian? I can say that I am a Russian astronaut, but for that to be true I need to be Russian, and I need to be an astronaut. Otherwise, if I insult an American chef, one cannot then say that Russian astronauts hate American chefs. Yet this is often what happens in church scandals. We should first examine the doctrines. If a person denies what the Bible teaches about the nature of God, the creation of man and the world, the reality of sin, the divinity and humanity of Christ, the atonement, and justification by faith, then he is not a Christian. He does not fit the definition. I do not have to defend Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christian Scientists. And I do not have to answer for Catholic priests who molest hundreds of little boys. These people do not fit the definition of what it means to be Christians even in their doctrines – the most public and objective indications of their identity. I do not even have to check if they are people who profess the faith, who parrot the right doctrines, but who do not sincerely believe – they declare themselves to be non-Christians by the doctrines they publicly profess. They retain the name or label, but not the actual teachings of the religion. Thus these are non-Christians who commit these atrocities while pretending to be Christians. If they are hypocrites, these are non-Christian hypocrites, and demonstrate the hypocrisy of non-Christians.

Slander. Preachers are targets for false accusations. The Lord himself was attacked by false testimonies, and the apostles were regularly slandered. Of course, when it comes to church scandals, we assume that some accusations are true, and we would not grant those who have done wrong immunity from discipline or even prosecution. But it would not be right to believe an accusation just because it has been made. If we have no information about the truth of the matter, it is best to withhold judgment. Also, if there is a temptation to gloat or feel vindicated when a Christian of a different persuasion is brought low, resist this temptation. Do not rejoice in evil. However, if it has been shown that the accused is indeed guilty, then we may rejoice in the righteousness that has been done against him.

Sympathy. If the accusations are true, and there are true victims involved, we are to show them due sympathy and assistance, and to pray for them, so that they may receive the comfort that only comes from God. At the same time, we must not allow them to become bitter against the Lord, or to wallow in unbelief and self-pity. If needed, we are to rebuke them with all sternness and authority, and command them to repent of their wicked attitude, and to climb out of the pit of depression by the strength of the Lord.

Fear. Paul writes, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12, ESV). We should take warning, since indeed God intends them as warnings, when troubles fall upon others. Certainly, it reminds us to keep ourselves pure and upright, so that we provide no occasion for scandals. But we must also guard against false accusations, or even simple misunderstandings. There is no reason for a minister to lock himself into a room with a woman to “counsel” her. Have a witness present, and spend no time with her in private. Do not use compassion as an excuse. If she insists on private counsel, refer her to a woman, or just kick her out. And there is no reason to work with a child in private, or even a group of children. Insist that a parent of one of the children be present, or kick them all out. As for finances, it may be a good idea for the church members to select a competent individual, knowledgeable in accounting and filled with the Holy Spirit, to be the treasurer or to perform audits, so that the leadership does not consist in an entirely closed circle.

Faith. We must fear, because we see that in ourselves, we cannot live holy lives. We will fall short of God’s righteous standard, and become vulnerable to criticisms and accusations. But we do not trust in ourselves to uphold our devotion and holiness. We have faith in God. We look to the throne of grace. He has called us to mature into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. And Paul writes, “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, ESV).