WHEN LEADERS FALL: ARE YOU NEXT?

-Doug Eaton

How many more headlines will it take before we take our own vulnerabilities seriously? Any Christian, especially those in a role of Christian leadership, should have a healthy fear of falling.?

We hear of many scandals involving pastors, authors, musicians, etc. Their talent outpaced their integrity. And it caught up with them. We often forget that for everyone we hear about, there are several others we do not. Even unknown leaders in small churches can disgrace themselves.

What should drive our healthy fear of falling is the knowledge that the same sinful nature inherited from Adam that caused these men and women to stumble is alive and well in us. Our temptations and weaknesses may differ from theirs, but they are no less destructive. If we hear of Christians who sidelined themselves because they took hold of their lusts and we think, “How dumb can they be?” our question may have merit, but we should not think too highly of ourselves as we ask it. If we do, we are blind to our own vulnerabilities; pride has us in its grip, and we know where that leads.

There are lusts at work in us, and sinful sexual desires are not the only culprits—some lust for power, others for money, and still others for fame.?

Pride can lead to anger, bitterness, and resentment, which can lead to narcissism and spiritual abuse. Finally, in all these situations, you will find an undercurrent of biblical distortions flowing. These are the works of the flesh, bringing men and women down daily. We should be mindful of our vulnerabilities. We should have a healthy fear of falling, but that fear should never overcome us.

WHETHER OR NOT OUR FEAR OF FALLING IS HEALTHY OR UNHEALTHY WILL DEPEND ENTIRELY ON WHETHER OUR FEAR OF GOD IS GODLY OR UNGODLY.

Whether or not our fear of falling is healthy or unhealthy will depend entirely on whether our fear of God is godly or ungodly. An ungodly fear of God distrusts him, sees Him only as a judge and not a Savior, and continually regards him with suspicion. A godly fear of God, loves Him, trusts him, and hopes in him. The answer to a harmful fear of falling is to humble ourselves under his mighty hand and trust that he will do what he has promised. He will complete the work he has started in us.

IN HUMBLING OURSELVES UNDER HIS MIGHTY HAND, WE MUST BE WILLING TO BELIEVE WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT US AND USE THE MEANS HE HAS PROVIDED TO KEEP US ON THE NARROW ROAD.

In humbling ourselves under his mighty hand, we must be willing to believe what he says about us and use the means he has provided to keep us on the narrow road. We are declared righteous in Jesus, and our salvation is secure, but none of us have been fully sanctified yet. That means every one of us is still sinful in certain areas. The resources he has provided us to utilize in mortifying the flesh undoubtedly include prayer and bible reading, but it also includes the local church. We need fellow believers to walk with us.

We need to be part of a local gathering of believers who are honest about their own shortcomings and seek strength alongside their brothers and sisters—who, in turn, will approach our weaknesses with grace and a desire to help. Humility and openness with fellow believers are essential to living the Christian life faithfully.

The message to myself and you is, first, pride is already guiding us toward a fall if we are not mindful of our vulnerability to falling. It is time to wake up and be alert and sober-minded.?

Second, make sure you are intimately involved in a local church. This involvement is more than showing up, listening to the sermon, and leaving. It is getting to know the people and letting them get to know you. If the church is large, it means getting involved in a smaller group where you can be open and honest about your strengths and weaknesses.

Our fear of falling does not overwhelm us because we know the one who can overcome our tendency to fall, but if we neglect the means of grace through which he works, we are on a dangerous path.

-D. Eaton

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This article first appeared here => https://fightoffaithblog.com/2025/02/17/when-leaders-fall-are-you-next/?mc_cid=dfae3d649a&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e