Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Thoughts on Whether the Recent Reports on Sexual Abuse Are Attempts to Slander the Church, and 15 Consequences of Sexual Immorality

Thoughts on Whether the Recent Reports on Sexual Abuse Are Attempts to Slander the Church, and 15 Consequences of Sexual Immorality

Last updated on: April 15, 2019 at 8:30 am by Randy Alcorn

Thoughts on Whether the Recent Reports on Sexual Abuse Are Attempts to Slander the Church, and 15 Consequences of Sexual Immorality 2019-03-20T14:44:57-08:00 Randy Alcorn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Recently I shared on my blog about The Houston Chronicle’s Report on Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse, and the Lessons for All Evangelical Churches. I want to respond to a couple of the comments I received about it.

One person wrote, “If I wanted to find dirt in any organization, I could; the press thrives on slandering the church.” Another commenter said, “So you have ask, how come all of a sudden now all these accusations. It seems like part of the Mueller investigation, anything to make Christians/conservatives look bad.”

Yes, there are certainly times when the world slanders the church and Christians by sharing reports that are not true or unjust. But the fact is, the sexual sin of SOME pastors in SOME churches is a reality (and sadly, it’s more than just a few pastors who are involved). This is at epidemic proportions, and epidemics are not solved by our saying, “This is just another attempt to make the church look bad.” (In the case of the Houston Chronicle report, the reporters reviewed thousands of pages of court, prison and police records, and built a database of leaders who have been convicted of sex crimes.)

We shouldn’t be quick to become the victim and not look at reality. Our goal shouldn’t be to convince the world (or ourselves) there’s no sin in the church. The world already knows there is, and so should we. And only if we do know will we do something to deal with and prevent it in Christ-honoring way. I’ve been encouraged to see some of the responses to the Houston Chronicle report so far, and hope and pray that all of this results in real changes and better protection for vulnerable people in our churches.

I’ve had other people tell me that it’s unbiblical to write about pastors and the dangers of sexual sin. But the Bible is full of warnings alerting people, including leaders, to dangers. God told Ezekiel to be a watchman on the wall and warn the people of sin and rebellion and its consequences. He warned Ezekiel if he didn’t speak up he would be accountable. Warning pastors and churches about sexual sin is like warning families to build strong marriages to resist the tide of adultery.

So the question is, shall we say nothing about what’s happening and just hope no one notices? And just hope churches and leaders figure out on their own that they need to cultivate a watchful accountable environment for their pastors and when pastors sin inform the next church? My question is, how has that been working for us?

Obviously it hasn’t been working at all! If people don’t speak up no one is warned and no one is helped and there is no hope of preventing sin, but only letting it grow in secret, multiplying itself in the darkness. God’s people are not to deny that sin is happening, but recognize it and seek to deal with it biblically and prevent it wherever possible.

Related to the subject of leaders and sexual sin, today’s blog includes an edited version of a list of anticipated consequences of immorality. My friend and fellow pastor Alan Hlavka and I wrote the original version over 35 years ago, when we were both pastors at Good Shepherd Community Church. Our individual lists were devastating, and to us they spoke more powerfully than any sermon or article on the subject.

Periodically, especially when travelling or when in a time of temptation or weakness, we each read through our own list. In a personal and tangible way, it brought home God’s inviolate law of choice and consequence. It cut through the fog of rationalization and filled our hearts with the healthy, motivating fear of God.

While God can forgive and bring beauty out of ashes, that’s a message to those who have already sinned…not to those who are contemplating sin! On the “front side” of sin we must not give assurances of forgiveness and restoration. We must put the focus where Scripture does—on the love of God and the fear of God, both of which should act in concert to motivate us to holy obedience.

I recommend that you use the following as the basis for your own list, and include consequences that would be uniquely yours. The idea, of course, is not to focus on sin, but on the consequences of sin, thereby encourage yourself to refocus on the Lord and take steps of wisdom and purity that can keep you from falling. (Of course, this list is not just for pastors and those in church leadership, but can be adapted by anyone.)

15 Consequences of Committing Sexual Immorality

I would grieve my Lord, and displease the One whose opinion most matters.

Christ’s sacred reputation would be dragged in the mud.
I would have to one day look Jesus in the face at the judgment seat and give an account of why I did it. I would suffer loss of reward and commendation from God.
I would force God to discipline me in various ways.
I would follow in the footsteps of men I know whose immorality forfeited their ministry.
I would cause the suffering of innocent people around me who would be affected by my decisions.
I would cause untold hurt to my wife, and lose her respect and trust—and likely my entire relationship to her.
I would cause hurt to my children and grandchildren, and lose credibility with them.
I would bring shame to my family.
I would bring shame to my church family, and to my fellow pastors and elders.
I would bring shame and hurt to my friends, and to those I’ve led to Christ and discipled.
I would experience great guilt, and be haunted by my sin when it is brought up wherever I go and whatever I do.
I would disqualify myself from ministry, and forfeit certain opportunities to serve God—maybe permanently.
I would enable the laughter, rejoicing and blasphemous smugness of those who disrespect God and the church.
I would bring great pleasure to Satan, the Enemy of God.

You can read the longer version of this list here.

Browse more resources on the topic of purity, and see Randy’s book The Purity Principle and his booklet Sexual Temptation.

Photo by Jeremiah Higgins on Unsplash

Previous Post

April 11, 2019

My Novels Lord Foulgrin’s Letters and The Ishbane Conspiracy: Putting a Wiretap in Hell’s War Room

Next Post

April 18, 2019 Trustworthy with a Little, Entrusted with a Lot

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Me Animals Books Books and Resources Christ Christian Life Christians Past and Present Church Creation Culture and Worldview Doctrine and Theology Eternal Perspective Ministries Fun Grace and Truth Grief Happiness Heaven Marriage and Family Missions Money and Giving Persecuted Church Politics Prayer Prolife Salvation Sexual Purity Sovereignty and Free Will Suffering and Evil Uncategorized Writing

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz