Christians Gone Crazy

Every day, it seems, we read or hear another account of “Christian” people being caught doing things that are anything but Christian. People of “faith” are found guilty of fraud, fondling children, and faking the truth in a variety of ways. With tears, they admit to their scandals, sex-capades, and stealing, but give praise to God for the presence of Jesus in their lives. In the meantime, Christ weeps, His work suffers, the world laughs, and fellows Christians wonder what in the world is going on.
Examples Galore
In the process of writing my book Defying Gravity (How to Survive the Storms of Pastoral Leadership) I interviewed dozens of Christian leaders (not all pastors) about some of the challenges they have faced. I will never forget the input I received from Karen Covell, a television producer and author. She serves as the Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network, seeking to mobilize prayer for “the most influential mission field in the world” as she connects with intercessors around the world. Karen and her husband, Jim (also a producer and my best friend from junior high school) have led a weekly prayer meeting in their home for their Hollywood colleagues for almost 25 years.
Not long ago, Karen discovered that a trusted friend and co-laborer for over 20 years, who handled HPN’s finances, was “borrowing money” from HPN. By the time Karen discovered this it was almost too late to salvage the ministry. Suddenly she was in the situation of needing to decide how to handle her colleague, what to do to save the ministry, or whether she should just shut it all down and start over. She found herself struggling with the thought of rebuilding – knowing the commitment, time, effort, and fundraising that it would take. As I wrote about her brokenhearted journey of trying to salvage the ministry, I wondered, “How could someone do that to such a wonderful person and ministry?” (When the book comes out in January, you can read the amazing story of how Karen navigated this crisis and came through with honor and grace.)
Of course, this is one of hundreds (maybe thousands) of stories that emerge every week across America involving “the faithful” and their woeful wrongdoings. I am not talking about a temper flare-up, speeding ticket, or failing to tithe. I am talking about major, public scandals that damage the faith of others because of the level of blatant duplicity involved. Whether it is a high-profile evangelist, a “Christian” politician, or a friend in our small group Bible study – it is all so very baffling. Let us try to make sense of it.
Humble Disclaimer
First, let’s admit the need for humility and grace as we consider this issue. Every one of us has entertained a thought or contemplated an action that could have resulted in great harm to our testimony and pain to those we love. As Galatians 6:1 says, we need to consider ourselves “lest we also be tempted.” God’s grace instructs us all that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12). Truly we can all say that, apart from His grace, “There go I.”
Why Do “Christian” People Do Such Crazy Things?
While hardly a theological treatise or counseling session, I want to share a few thoughts about how other believers can misfire so badly.
False Profession – Sometimes people behave in blatantly non-Christian ways because they are non-Christians. Just as godly repentance does not register in their present behavior, neither did it register when they “made a decision” to become a Christian. Read Matthew 7. Enough said.
Unsanctified Brokenness – Many people come to Christ but never really bring the brokenness of their past or present life under the power of the cross. For example, the baggage of uncrucified bitterness can lead to damaging decisions. The pain grows deep and eventually results in irrational, reactionary behavior that takes this unthinking believer from the frying pan of pain into the fire of widespread disgrace.
Another example might be the deep-seated dysfunction of an unsettled identity. Some Christians were raised with strong messages that their value was in how they appeared to others, what they possessed, or what things they achieved. Rather than living out an identity that is solid and settled at the cross, they are still trying to prove an identity that some powerful figure told them they must prove. To find themselves, they risk losing their integrity and intimacy with Christ and others.
Skewed View of Holiness – Our present culture tempts us in many ways to redefine God’s holiness. When we impose the acceptable behaviors of the day over the biblical picture of God’s absolute holiness, we set ourselves up to justify unholy behavior. I have heard it said, “In the beginning God created man in His image. Ever since, we’ve been trying to return the favor.”
Compartmentalized Behavior – Integrity is about a life where all the pieces fit together in authentic harmony and honesty. When compromise begins in some area of life, a person can begin to compartmentalize and believe that his behavior or thought patterns in one area are not necessarily related to other areas of life. Financial compromise gets isolated from family. Sexual misbehavior is tolerated as long as the individual serves at church. It is an approach that spells eventual disaster.
Seared Conscience – Some arrive at such a point of coddling a lying lifestyle that they actually yield their thoughts to the power of evil and no longer respond to the God-given voice of conscience. They develop a lifestyle of getting away with sin, with little remorse and minimal concern for the consequences.
Impact and Response?
So what is the practical impact of this crazy behavior? How should we respond to it all? In next week’s e-devo, we will tackle those questions.
In the meantime, we must make the decision every day to find our strength for holy living and authentic witness in Christ alone. As He taught us, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me”(John 15:4).
Ephesians 5:8-10 reminds us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” May we each resolve to walk the talk and manifest His light. Let us pray that the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth will be evident in our lives as we actively discover all that is acceptable to the Lord and avoid the pitfalls of this all-too-common crazy behavior.