Seth Udinski, FISM News

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In recent years, it appears that the number of high profile cases of immorality or apostasy among church leaders has grown.  In the last decade, we have witnessed the posthumous sex scandal of apologist Ravi Zacharias, a denial of the Christian faith from former pastor and author Joshua Harris, and public moral failings leading to the resignation of multiple megachurch pastors, including Carl Lentz of Hillsong N.Y. and Bill Hybels of Willow Creek.  With such unfaithfulness from those expected to be faithful, Christians must ask the simple question: In whom can we trust?

We must never place human beings on a level reserved only for God.  If we put our trust in a human leader, no matter how wonderful he or she may be, we will always be let down.  Why?  The answer is simple: sin has infected every human heart.  We are sinners, all of us.  The Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:10-12,

There is no one righteous, not even one.  There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.  All have turned away; all alike have become worthless.  There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

Every faithful pastor is also a wretched sinner.  Every preacher of God’s Word has also spat in God’s face.  Every courageous and disciplined leader is also a vile rebel.  We all stand equally sinful before God, equally deserving of death and hell.  To place our final confidence and hope in a hell-bound wretch is utter foolishness.

The beauty of the gospel is that Christ died for sinners.  Christ our Lord is also our perfect sacrifice, the One who satisfied the wrath of the Father.  He takes our sin on Himself and gives us His perfect righteousness, so that when the Father looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ.  Praise God!

What does this mean for us?  It means that men and woman can be truly faithful and obedient to the Word of God.  It means that we can sit under the faithful preaching of faithful, albeit sinful, pastors because the blood of Christ applies to them too.  Ultimately, it means we can look to our true Leader, our true Captain, our true Shepherd, knowing He will never fail.  His obedience to the Father is perfect.

So put your confidence not in man, but in Christ.  Submit yourself to faithful preaching and leadership, and thank God that He has raised up faithful leaders to care for your soul.  In all of this, keep your eyes on Christ, the perfect example of faithfulness.