Tag Christian Ministry

The Primacy of Preaching in Christian Ministry

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Introductory Statement: The senior pastor serves as the primary preacher and teacher within the local church. This role is essential to the spiritual health of the congregation. And, for the pastor, ministering the Word of God is not merely one task among many; it is the very lifeblood of a pastor’s calling.

“The public ministry of the word is the most responsible part of our work—the grand momentum of Divine agency—the most extensive engine of Ministerial operation.” Charles Bridges

The Context: In a typical week, I preach and teach three times. Once a month, I also visit nursing homes and assisted living centers, which adds another four messages, bringing the total to seven messages during that week. While this can be demanding, especially for a young pastor trying to figure things out, these opportunities to proclaim and teach God’s Word are important to my ministry. Each opportunity, whether in the pulpit, behind a music stand, or in care homes, represents an important aspect of my calling.

The Concern: Since I’ve been here, a few well-meaning people have suggested that I lessen my preaching and teaching load to prioritize visiting members and participating in community events, functioning like a community chaplain. While I appreciate their concern and the heart behind their counsel, this shift would ultimately detract from my central calling: the ministry of the Word.

“The supreme work of the Christian minister is the work of preaching. This is a day in which one of the great perils is that of doing a thousand little things to the neglect of one thing, which is preaching.” John Broadus

Thesis of this Blog: Because this has been suggested, I wanted to explain why I believe a pastor’s chief responsibility is the ministry of the word. While visitation and community involvement are valuable, they must flow from—and must not supersede—the ministry of the Word.

The Primacy of Preaching and Teaching in the Gospels

Beginning of Jesus’s Ministry: We see the primacy of preaching in the gospel narratives. God the Father commissioned His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to preach the Word. When Jesus embarked on His public ministry in Galilee, His approach was centered on preaching (Mark 1:14). Even after performing numerous healings that drew the attention of the crowds, Jesus made it clear that His primary purpose was not to carry out a healing ministry: “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (Mark 1:36-38). This demonstrates that Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, not primarily to heal but to preach and teach about the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43). This pattern remained true throughout His earthly ministry.

End of Jesus’s Ministry: Toward the end of His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus ascended a mountain in Galilee and entrusted His disciples with the Great Commission—a continuation of the sacred task He Himself had begun. Just listen to this charge that carries the full weight of divine authority: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19). Here, we find an explicit mandate that prioritizes teaching and preaching as the means of extending Christ’s kingdom to the ends of the earth. From beginning to end, Jesus prioritized preaching and teaching and taught his disciples to do the same.

“Preaching was the prominent feature in the ministry methodology of Jesus, the stated reason for which He was anointed of the Spirit of God. It was the specific work to which He called His disciples, the reason for which they, too, would be clothed with the power of the Spirit.” Arturo Azurdia

The Primacy of Preaching and Teaching in The Acts of the Apostles

Preaching at Pentecost: We see the primacy of preaching and teaching throughout the book of Acts. It was through the faithful proclamation of the Word that the church was not only birthed but also nourished. On the day of Pentecost, Peter boldly “lifted up his voice” to declare the truth of Scripture (Acts 2:14–41). Following this incredible moment in redemption history, we read that the church in Jerusalem “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). This pattern—where the Word births the church and then nourishes the church—is seen throughout Acts.

What About the Widows: Also, because preaching and teaching were central to the apostles’ ministry, they refused to get sidetracked by needs, even incredibly urgent ones. Shortly after the church was birthed by the Spirit, people were complaining that Greek widows were being neglected while Hebrew widows were being cared for. Shockingly, the apostles said it would not be right to “give up preaching the word of God” to serve widows (Acts 6:2). Instead, the church needed to appoint some godly men (deacons) to minister to the widows (Acts 6:3). This would allow the apostles to devote themselves “to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

“Preaching the Word is the primary task of the Church, the primary task of the leaders of the Church, . . and we must not allow anything to deflect us from this, however good the cause, however great the need.” Martyn Lloyd Jones

Preaching Amid Persecution: Lastly, because of the paramount importance of preaching and teaching, the apostles were relentless and unwavering in this work. After they were arrested and beaten, they were told to keep their mouths shut and let go. The apostles refused: “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus” (Acts 5:41-42). This pattern—preaching and teaching in the face of opposition—is evident throughout the book of Acts. Consider the last verse: The apostle Paul is under house arrest with a soldier guarding him, yet he continues to preach and teach (Acts 28:30).

The Primacy of Preaching and Teaching in the Pastoral Epistles

Paul On Elders: The Pastoral Epistles reveal the priority of preaching and teaching. According to Paul, for a man to be an elder/overseer/pastor within a local church, he must “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). So, pastors must not only hold firm to good, sound apostolic doctrine, they must also instruct and refute—which primarily takes place in preaching in teaching. Elders who do this well ought to be compensated for their work because “a laborer deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). So, preaching and teaching are considered toil and labor. It is honest work.

“Preaching and teaching is the highest calling of a minister. It is tragic that so many in our day have been diverted from that. They spend their time on nonessentials, and their people end up spiritually impoverished.” John MacArthur

Paul to Timothy: If we move beyond Paul’s instruction about elders to his instruction to Timothy, the centrality of preaching and teaching becomes even clearer. Paul commanded Timothy to give himself tirelessly “to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13). Paul wanted Timothy to dedicate so much time to these tasks that all would be able to see his progress (1 Timothy 4:15). As Timothy relentlessly gave himself to preaching and teaching, Paul wanted him to “rightly handle the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). He wanted him to cut it straight, showing himself to be a faithful and able herald of sacred Scripture. This was not an inconsequential task. It was so important that Paul gave Timothy a solemn charge: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

“Public and continual preaching of God’s word is the ordinary means and instrument of the salvation of mankind. . . By preaching God’s word, the glory of God is enlarged, faith is nourished, and charity is increased. By it the ignorant are instructed, the negligent exhorted and incited, the stubborn rebuked, the weak conscience comforted, and to all those that sin of malicious wickedness, the wrath of God is threatened.” Archbishop Grindal

Preaching and Teaching: God’s Ordained Means to Mature the Church

Faith Comes By Hearing: In Romans 10, Paul teaches the centrality of preaching in the justification of sinners. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, it’s clear: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13). But how can people call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ if they have never heard of Him? “And how are they to hear without someone preaching” (Romans 10:14)? Paul’s conclusion: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). As you can see, God works through the preaching of the Word; it is one of the primary means He uses to draw men to Himself.

“Here Paul magnifies the office of the gospel preachers; it is God’s good pleasure by their proclamation of his amnesty to bring his mercy home to those who believe the message.” F.F. Bruce

“The great design and intention of the office of a Christian preacher is to restore the throne and dominion of God in the souls of man.” Cotton Mather

Faith is Nourished By Hearing: Once individuals are justified, preaching and teaching play a crucial role in nourishing and sustaining their faith. Just as bread is essential for physical sustenance in a dry and barren wilderness, so too is God’s Word vital for our spiritual nourishment amidst the wilderness of this world (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). And consider how an infant thrives on milk, gradually maturing to handle solid food. Similarly, a diet of spiritual milk enables a new believer to grow and develop, preparing them to humbly receive the deeper truths found in the meat of God’s Word (1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-13). These figures of speech teach us that our faith is nourished through the ministry of the Word. It is food for the soul.

“It was by the ear—by our first parents listening to the serpent, that we lost paradise; and it is by the ear—by hearing of the Word, that we get to heaven. . . God sometimes in the preaching of the Word—drops the holy oil into the ear, which softens and sanctifies the heart!” Thomas Watson

Faith Matures By Hearing. Our heavenly Father desires for us to mature in the faith and be further conformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Preaching and teaching play an instrumental role in the maturation process. One of the primary goals of God-breathed Scripture is Christian maturity and wholeness: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

In His wisdom, the Lord Jesus provides the church with gifted leaders—“apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers” (Ephesians 4:7-11)—to minister His Word. As these faithful servants proclaim the Scriptures, the body of Christ becomes increasingly equipped and empowered for ministry. Consequently, as each member faithfully exercises their God-given calling, the entire church grows in maturity, reflecting the character of Christ more fully (Ephesians 4:12-16).

“Our goal as pastors is not to do all the work of the ministry ourselves, but to equip our people for ministry. We can only accomplish this effectively through preaching based on thorough study. So I know that time spent in preparation will result in more sharing of my load by a maturing church.” John MacArthur

Conclusion

As I reflect on the role of the Senior Pastor and the weight of the Biblical witness, I am convinced that my chief responsibility lies in the faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word. Church, we must stand against the troubling trends that have infiltrated some corners of evangelicalism, where the ministry of the Word is diminished in favor of lesser pursuits. Instead, let us wholeheartedly affirm and prioritize the centrality of preaching and teaching in the life of both the pastor and the local church.

“The primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God.” Martyn Lloyd Jones

A Few Applications

As a church, we can take some small steps to prioritize the ministry of the word:

Pray Regularly: As a congregation, I encourage you to pray regularly for those who minister the Word of God, especially for me. Ask the Lord to fill me with His Spirit. Ask Him to give me boldness, clarity, and courage in proclaiming the truth. Ask Him to gift me with a deeper ability to exercise the spiritual gifts of preaching and teaching. And pray fervently for the salvation of souls and the edification of the church.

“Grant, Almighty God, that as thou wouldest have us to be ruled by the preaching of thy word,—O grant, that those who have to discharge this office may be really endued with thy celestial power, that they may not attempt any thing of themselves, but with all devotedness spend all their labours for thee and for our benefit, that through them we may be thus edified, so that thou mayest ever dwell among us, and that we through our whole life may become the habitation of thy Majesty, and that finally we may come to thy heavenly sanctuary, where thou daily invitest us, as an entrance there has been once for all opened to us by the blood of thy only-begotten Son. Amen.” John Calvin

Raise Up Teachers: As a church family, it is crucial for us to prioritize the cultivation of faithful preachers and teachers from within our own ranks. We must invest in the discipleship and equipping of godly men who are prepared to bear the responsibility of teaching and preaching. This will enable our church to thrive and grow. And it will also allow me, as the senior pastor, to share the preaching and teaching responsibilities among a group of qualified and capable men who can effectively minister the Word of God to the people of God.

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:1–2

Elect Faithful Deacons: Visitation is a significant part of the church’s life. Caring for widows is a matter close to the Lord’s heart, and our local church must not overlook it. In alignment with God’s design, this responsibility should fundamentally rest upon the shoulders of deacons. Therefore, it is essential to nominate and elect deacons who have demonstrated their commitment to visitation and the care of widows, ensuring that this ministry receives the attention it deserves.

“Biblical deacons, then, are like a congregation’s offensive linemen, whose job is to protect the quarterback. They rarely get attention, much less credit, but their labors are utterly indispensable for both guarding and advancing the ministry of the Word. Without effective deacons, elders will suffer incessant distraction and get sacked by an onrush of practical demands.” Matt Smethurst

Article Roundup: Helpful Reads

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I am the pastor of First Baptist Church Jackon in Jackson, Alabama. Once a week, I share a post titled “Article Roundup: Helpful Reads,” where I compile articles that I believe are beneficial for the saints who make up FBC Jackson. I am confident that these articles can also be helpful for followers of Christ around the world. Happy reading!

Hospitality: The Forgotten Qualification by Matt Foreman

During my short time as the senior pastor of FBC Jackson, I have emphasized the importance of hospitality to our two associate pastors. I will leave it to Matt Foreman to explain why hospitality is so important in the life of an elder/overseer/pastor. “The responsibilities of elders are not just about information-transfer. They are about discipleship of life. The “doctrine that accords with godliness” (Tit. 1:1; 1 Tim. 6:3) is more than taught; it must be caught. And therefore, elders must share their lives with their people. They are to invite people to observe their homes, their marriages, their parenting, their practical godliness.”

How (Not) to Use AI: Three Principles by Jonathan M. Threlfall

In this article, Jonathan M. Threlfall helps pastors consider appropriate ways to use artificial intelligence. It is refreshing to see pastors striving to cultivate a healthy Christian ethic regarding the use of artificial intelligence. (Though this is written by a pastor for pastors, it is applicable to all Christians.) “Artificial intelligence, like Babel’s bricks and mortar, can be used either to build a tower in defiance of God—to our own confusion, or to build a temple to worship God—to our delight and his glory.”

Retired from New Year’s Resolutions by Jana Carlson

In this article, Jana Carlson explains why she stopped making New Year’s resolutions. Most people, especially busy moms, can benefit from this short read. “So, after many years of meticulously setting specific goals and planning exactly how I’d accomplish them, I retired from New Year’s resolutions. Now, instead of focusing on goals and long-term plans, I focus on purpose. God created me for a purpose. He created all of us for a purpose—ultimately, that we would know him, love him, and glorify him. And I can pursue that purpose no matter what happens in my life.”

Honor Your (Elderly) Parents: How Adult Children ‘Make Some Return’ by Kathleen Nielson

This is a really good article. “We grown humans tend to forget that we were once babies, naked and often dirty, needy and inconvenient. Why would we forgo making some return to those whose lives were often turned upside down as they cared for us? And why would we neglect the lessons to be learned about the care of our heavenly Father, whose own Son emptied himself and came down for the sake of us sinful children?”

10 Ways to Fracture Your Church by Conrad Mbewe

Sadly, the local church is like dry kindling waiting to ignite. That said, articles like this are always helpful! “Yet, you only have to be a Christian for a short time before you realize that churches suffer from disunity and splits after seasons of peace as surely as valleys follow rolling hills. Often, you can see the downward spiral coming from a distance. In this article, I point out ten ways in which you can fracture the church to which you belong. Most of these ways can be caused by anyone. The last few are normally caused by church leaders. If any of these describe your actions or your attitude, may God give you grace to amend your ways for the sake of Christ who desires his people to be truly united.”

Things I’ve Learned

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I went to church sporadically growing up. I remember occasionally going to a small Southern Baptist Church about fifteen minutes from my childhood home when I was in elementary school. While I was in middle school, I remember intermittingly going to a larger Southern Baptist Church in West Mobile. And by the time I entered high school, I was rarely going to church at all . . . I only went to church when I was dating a girl that had a family that was going to church (how pathetic is that)!

Needless to say, I didn’t grow up with a relationship to pastors and deacons. Nor did I have any familiarity with AWANA, VBS, youth summer camps, mission trips, or anything along those lines. Really, regarding church life, I didn’t know much of anything.

Growing Familiarity with the Church

By the time I entered college, God began to graciously call me to Himself. Deep into the fall semester of my freshmen year, He mercifully saved me and freely gave me the gift of eternal life through faith in Christ. With a genuine work of God in my heart, I began to become more active in the local church.

This allowed me to get close to pastors and deacons, to become familiar with Vacation Bible Schools, youth summer camps, mission trips, and other church related things. And though I wasn’t knowledgeable of all that was going on in the church that I was attending, I started becoming more familiar with the church.

Much More Familiarity with the Church

After college, my wife and I moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina, in January of 2015. On August 16, 2016, I was hired on full time as the Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church of Durham (a healthy local church in downtown Durham). This was my first ever ministry position, and I joyfully served in this capacity for three and a half years.

While I was doing college ministry, a friend of mine from Louisiana asked if I would be interested in being his associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Longville. This seemed like a good opportunity to serve the people of God, so in December of 2019, I moved to Longville, Louisiana, to begin serving full time as an associate pastor. I’m still serving in this capacity. This means that, as of August 16, 2021 (today), I’ve been doing full time ministry for five years. And at twenty-nine years old, I’m much more familiar with the church than I was in my childhood and teenage years.

Things I’ve Learned

Though five years isn’t a very long time, I thought it’d be neat to reflect on some things that I’ve learned while serving in full time ministry. Since ministry largely involves ministering to people, most of the things I’ve learned have to do with people. So, here we go:

People Need Christ

Christ is the incarnate Word, the image of the invisible God, the Passover Lamb that takes away the sins of the world, and the light for the nations. He is the only mediator between God and man, and it’s only in Christ that one can find reconciliation and peace with God. Jesus is a never-ending source of other-worldly satisfaction and joy, and it’s Jesus that people need. 

After five years of ministry, I’m even more mindful that one of the most important things that I can do is place Christ before people’s eyes. And no, I’m not merely talking about placing Christ before unbelievers’ eyes. I’m also talking about placing Christ before believers’ eyes. I’ve learned that the children of God desperately need to behold and savor Christ afresh every day.

People Love Handwritten Cards

We live in a day and age where our emails are bombarded with advertisements, and where our cell phones are constantly receiving mostly insignificant messages from friends, family members, and acquaintances. And even though communication is remarkably easy, people are rarely receiving well thought out handwritten cards that are expressly written for the purpose of encouraging others.

This means that when people do receive a handwritten card, it is both encouraging and memorable! In all seriousness, I don’t believe I’ve ever had somebody thank me to my face for an encouraging text (though I’ve sent many). But almost everybody that I’ve written a card to goes out of their way to thank me. It’s evident that people love handwritten cards!

People Need to be Encouraged

There are people in the church that sacrifice their time, energy, and money for the cause of Christ. They give up their weeknights and Sundays for the purpose of sacrificially serving others. They diligently study so that they can properly teach the Word of God. They read books and listen to podcasts so that they can better counsel folks that are hurting and suffering. They open their homes to get to know other members of the church. And these people need to be encouraged. They need to know that I, as their pastor, see their ministry, am grateful for their ministry, and that our church is better off because of their ministry.

People are Hurting

Sure, people put on a socially acceptable smile on Sunday mornings, but deep down inside most people are hurting. And they are hurting because of their own sins, someone else’s sins, or because of all that comes with living on a cursed earth. There’s a family unit that has a rebellious child. There’s a marriage that is on the brink of disaster. There’s a youth that’s beginning to indulge in sexual sin that will have consequences for decades to come. Somebody has gone to the doctor and received a life altering diagnosis. A couple is doubting if they will ever be able to get pregnant. A widow is trying to figure out how to go to sleep by herself every night. All over the church, people are hurting, and they need other brothers and sisters in Christ to help them.

People Need Parlor Preachers

We don’t really hear the term “parlor” anymore, but most churches in the old days had them. It was a room in the church that was especially constructed for receiving guests. And a parlor preacher is a Christian that can speak about heavenly things in social settings (not just from the pulpit). Charles Bridges defines it as “the ability to introduce the subject of religion seasonably and acceptably into social discourse.”

It’s important to be able to do this as a pastor, and it’s important to have fellow church members that can do this as well. Reflecting on the importance of this Spurgeon says, “To be a holy talker for Jesus might be almost as fruitful an office as to be a faithful preacher.” In five years, I’ve learned that we vastly overestimate what people learn from their pastor in the pulpit, and that we vastly underestimate what people learn from a spiritual conversation in the parlor.

People Need Church History

The Catholic Church teaches that both Scripture and tradition are equally authoritative. While the Baptist Church has rightly rejected this, most Baptist Churches have made an equally deadly error by flat out rejecting church history and tradition. There are so many people that are ignorant of the early church and its creeds, the Reformation and its confessions, the historical development of Baptist ecclesiology and doctrine, the Great Awakening, and so much more. 

This means that, within many Baptist Churches, most people’s concept of church is built around the church that they grew up in rather than the historic church that has existed for thousands of years. This isn’t healthy at all, and it leads to a multitude of problems. People really need church history.

People Need Sound Doctrine

This should not surprise anyone because one cursory reading through the Bible reveals that sound doctrine is important. Nevertheless, when I ministered to college students in North Carolina, and as I’ve ministered to people in Louisiana, it has become clear that many people grow up in Baptist Churches that are indifferent to doctrine. And it seems like most churches promote doctrinal indifferentism for the sake of maintaining unity. It’s as though pastors think to themselves: “If I don’t preach meaty doctrine, then my people won’t divide over anything.” 

What these pastors are failing to realize is that keeping people ignorant of doctrine cultivates what J.I. Packer calls “a deceptive appearance of unity.” Just because a church seems to have inter-party peace doesn’t mean they’re unified. Instead, it means that division is right around the corner. . . .as soon as people start talking about doctrine! So, people need sound doctrine, and Baptists Churches would be better off if they made every effort to cultivate doctrinal unity within their congregations rather than a deceptive appearance of unity.

Church Family IS Family

Kahlie and I both have awesome families. As a matter of fact, almost every vacation we take involves going to see our families because we enjoy being around them so much! With that said, one of the things that God has really taught us since we have moved away from our families for the sake of the church is that church family IS family! We knew this mentally before we moved away from home. We understood that other Christians were our brothers and sisters in Christ. We knew that older Christians could become spiritual fathers and mothers to us. We could mentally assent to these truths.

But once we moved away from home, we quickly came to understand this experientially. While we were in North Carolina, Kahlie and I immediately had our hearts joined together with other Christians. We were eating at each other’s houses, celebrating holidays together, serving together, serving each other, praying for one another, learning from one another, taking vacations together, helping each other bear up under trials, and so on and so forth! Older Christians invested in us, discipled us, cooked for us, and counseled us. And sure enough, when we moved eighteen hours from North Carolina to Louisiana, we immediately had our hearts knitted together with other Christians here. As we have moved across the Southeast, it’s become clear that church family is family. Thank God for the church!

Church Friendly Families are Awesome

Most families are looking for family friendly churches. This is completely understandable. It’s good to look for a church that’s going to strategically strive to serve each member of your family in a manner that’s worthy of the Lord. But as a pastor, one of the greatest blessings to the church is a church friendly family—a family that prioritizes healthy involvement in the church over athletics, hobbies, and other extracurriculars. In both churches that I’ve served in, I’m always blessed and encouraged by healthy family units that make healthy involvement in the church a main priority.

Godly Deacons are a Blessing

I’ve had the pleasure of getting close to godly deacons at both churches that I’ve served at. The deacons I’m talking about account their lives of little value, have hearts that go out to the hurting, and see it as their God given role to glorify Christ by fulfilling both menial and significant tasks for the church and the community. About these men, I echo Spurgeon’s words: 

“The church owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude to those thousands of godly men who study her interests day and night, contribute largely of their substance, care for her poor, cheer her ministers, and in times of trouble as well as prosperity remain faithfully at their posts…Deprive the church of her deacons and she would be bereaved of her most valiant sons; their loss would be the shaking of the pillars of our spiritual house and would cause desolation on every side.”

Still Learning

I could keep going. I’ve learned a great deal about people and ministry over the past five years. But, like I said early, I’m not so naïve to think that five years is a long time. It’s very brief in the grand scheme of things. With this in mind, I’m still learning, and I’m greatly anticipating God to continue educating me.

The Outward Varnish of Religion

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“I had to offer sacrifices, 

and today I have paid my vows.”

Proverbs 7:14

Ravi Zacharias is a well-known Christian apologist, speaker, and evangelist. His books have been widely read, his YouTube videos have been widely watched, and his conferences have been widely attended. As one listens to him, he seems to exude Christian humility and gentleness. However, ever since his death in 2020, there has been an extensive investigation into Ravi Zacharias’ sexual misconduct. And just last week, the twelve-page report that reveals the findings of the independent investigation into his sexual wrongdoing was released (you can also find the latest Christianity Today article here). Ravi’s sexual misconduct has been made manifest now, and it has become apparent that he was a sexual predator.

As I read through the evidence in the report my stomach churned, and my face cringed. Ravi’s sexual sin is deplorable and sickening. One of the worst parts is that he seems to have used his ministry as a cover for sin. He utilized his Christian faith to his advantage in manipulating and coercing young ladies into certain sexual acts. In light of these recent revelations, this week I wanted to write on Proverbs 7:14 to reveal that the Bible actually talks about this evil tactic of using religion to coerce and seduce someone.

Proverbs 7 – The Adulteress

Within the book of Proverbs, chapters 5-7 deal extensively with sexual sin. In each chapter, there are warnings against the sin of adultery (Proverbs 5:9-14, 21-23; 6:26-35; 7:22-27) and the enticing allure of the adulteress (Proverbs 5:3; 6:24-25; 7:5, 10-21). Though these chapters present a wealth of wisdom, I want to focus on the fact that the adulteress in Proverbs 7:14 presents herself in the garments of religion in hopes to entice the simple man to drink the poison of sexual sin with her.

When the adulteress launches her attack in Proverbs 7, she is “dressed as a prostitute” (7:10), “loud and wayward” (7:11), and waiting for a man whom she can satisfy her sinful lusts with (7:12). Once she discovers her next victim, she lays hold of him and “kisses him” (7:13). Though this is a bold sexual encounter in and of itself, she wants to go further. It is at this point that she uses religion as a means to coerce and entice the simple man to bring this initial sexual encounter to its full consummation. She says to him, “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows” (7:14).

Most translations translate “sacrifices” as peace offerings. The peace offering was a unique sacrifice because it was one of the only offerings where the offeror was given a large portion of the sacrifice so that they might return home and partake in it in a celebratory way with both friends and family (Leviticus 7:11-21). And in our passage, the adulteress has just offered up peace offerings at the temple, the dwelling place of God. She is now headed back home to feast on the remaining parts of the sacrifice.

While she’s headed home, she invites the simple man to come along with her. She wants him there so that he might partake in the rest of the sacrifice with her . . . . as well as some carnal love. It seems like she believes that, because of her sacrificial offering, God is rewarding her by satisfying her sinful passions (Proverbs 7:15-20). At the end of the day, it is apparent that the adulteress is covering up the sexual mischievousness of her heart with the outward varnish of religion.

Sadly, the simple man falls prey to her carnal passions that are robed in religious garments. He follows her “as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a stag is caught fast” (Proverbs 7:22), and “as a bird rushes into a snare” (Proverbs 7:23). The simple man of Proverbs 7 is seen as another casualty in the adulteress’ hunt to satisfy own her fleshly appetite (Proverbs 7:26).

Ravi – The Adulterer

Like the adulteress of Proverbs 7, Ravi Zacharias also used his religious garments to help him fulfill his sexual passions. Because Ravi had significant backpain, he would frequently go to receive a massage. While he was receiving these massages from young ladies, he would strike up casual conversations with them. 

One massage therapist said that these conversations led her to think of Ravi as a “father figure” to her. He would speak to her about spiritual things and would inquire about her financial situation. Upon hearing that she was struggling financially, he secured ministry funds to help her out. Shortly after this, he elicited sex from her. In recounting this time in her life, the lady said that Ravi would use “religious expressions to gain her compliance.” He would make her pray with him. He would call her his “reward” from God because of his faithful service to the Lord. Indeed, Ravi drove home the point that “the Lord understood what he had sacrificed” and implied that “their sexual exchanges were God’s way of rewarding him.” He then warned her not to speak out against him because that would “damage his reputation” and lead “millions of souls” to hell.

Another lady said that Ravi groomed her in a similar way. Throughout their conversations, Ravi “gained her trust as a spiritual guide, confidante, and notable Christian statemen.” As she began to see Ravi as a spiritual authority in her life, he started using his influence “to exploit her vulnerability to satisfy his own sexual desires.” Though Ravi and this lady were never physically intimate, intimate photos were shared. 

As you can see, Ravi was enslaved to sexual sin and he used his ministry platform to coerce young ladies. With his worldwide Christian ministry, he groomed women to respect him. This was all, of course, so that he might gratify his flesh with them. Then, with his worldwide Christian ministry platform, he warned the women to stay silent about it. At the end of the day, Ravi abused the Christian faith as a means to fulfill his godless passions. In doing so, he betrayed his wife, victimized many women, delegitimized his worldwide ministry, and dishonored the name of Christ.

Since seemingly godly people use the Christian faith as a means to satisfy their sinful lusts, may we all learn to “beware of any voice, though from the most revered quarter, that manifestly encourages forbidden indulgence.” And may we, those of us that have a ministry platform, learn to leverage our authority and influence for the edification of the church rather than the indulgence of the flesh. For we serve a God that will one day wipe away the outward varnish of religion and expose us for who we truly are.