Three Killers of Evangelists
“Not again!” was all I could say when I heard the news of another evangelist falling into sin. It has become all too common to hear accounts of men who, though initially appearing faithful, bring shame upon the gospel through their sinful choices and actions. During my time in the ministry, I have worked alongside men who, enticed by their own desires, succumbed to sin (James 1:14-15). Consequently, I have witnessed evangelists destroy not only their reputation and ministry but also their families. Most concerning of all, they have caused people to blaspheme Christ (Romans 2:24).
As I reflect on the numerous 'falls', I cannot help but notice three main areas that seem to be the downfall of evangelists. It would be prudent for all those involved in the ministry to be alert to these areas since the same temptations that led others into sin could easily become the pitfalls that threaten us.
In 1 Corinthians 10:12, the Apostle Paul warns us, saying, “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” We all need to “take heed”; everyone must be alert to the deceptive nature of sin. Never assume that you are above being tempted. Several of those evangelists who embraced sin later admitted that their downfall began when they stopped recognising the dangerous nature of sin. Their guard went down, and soon they fell.
The three most common areas that I have observed which brings about the fall of evangelists are:
1) Gold
The Scripture warns in 1 Timothy 6:9-10:
"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Evangelists are often supported by God’s people who give sacrificially to the ministry. As such, we need to ensure transparency and accountability in financial matters. Let me stress that there is nothing inherently wrong with being rich, but when the desire for wealth becomes the focus, that is when we tread on dangerous ground. Evangelists must learn contentment and trust in the Lord for their provision.
It's worth remembering that the desire to enrich oneself off God’s people is a sign of a false teacher (2 Peter 2:3).
2) Glory
One of the downsides of gospel ministry is that, at times, your name can become quite well-known in certain areas and circles. Due to this, many well-meaning Christians may want to pat you on the back and express how much they were blessed by your work.
When I first started in the ministry, I struggled when people would come up to me after a sermon to tell me how much they loved my preaching. As I listened to their words, I felt my ego building up. It was then that a godly mentor pulled me aside. This mature pastor said, “Josh, when someone praises you, it is polite to say thank-you to that person, but in your heart, make sure you say thank-you to God for the gifting and abilities He has given you.” I found this advice tremendously helpful because it reminded me that any ability I have is only a result of God’s grace.
When an evangelist begins to take the glory for himself, he is robbing God of what is rightfully His. Isaiah 42:8 says, “I am the LORD, that is My name, and My glory I will not give to another…”
The Lord will not tolerate a man taking the praise that rightfully belongs to Him. When an evangelist begins to love the limelight, you can usually tell that a fall is coming. Oftentimes, this fall is an act of corrective discipline from the Lord (Hebrews 12:6).
3) Girls
It has been said that whenever you hear of a preacher falling into sin, you should ask, “what is her name?” The reasoning behind this questioning is that so often, evangelists who fall have done so because they have failed to control their sexual desires.
Roger Carswell, in his book "And Some Evangelists," makes an important observation when he says:
"Because of the personality and nature of the work of the evangelist, he is likely to have a strong sex drive. Passion manifests itself in many ways – spiritual and sensual. The evangelist should know what to run from and what to guard against when it comes to sexual matters."
Evangelists would do well to meditate upon the many warnings of sexual sin found in the Book of Proverbs. Also, it is helpful to keep in mind that the Lord Jesus declares that lust is the same as adultery (Matthew 5:27-28). This means that while the evangelist may not commit the physical sexual sin, he may do so by lusting, which includes looking at pornography.
Solution
When I first posted about these pitfalls on Facebook, I received a reply from Professor Grant Horner of The Masters University, offering very helpful advice on how to navigate these three areas. He said, “Gold – Give it away. Glory – Give it to God. Girls – Marry one!”
These areas will always be a battle for evangelists, so please, be on your guard. If you are struggling in any of these areas, know that you don’t need to battle alone. Talk to your Pastors/Elders, as they are there to care for you and help you. Feel free to reach out to other evangelists as well. Brothers, let us stay faithful to Christ, so we don’t do anything that sullies His name.