Following from my last post, I continue my response to a visitor who kindly left a comment on one of my earlier posts. This is the second part of my response.
As a reminder, the points raised were:
1. How does one explain Romans 6:1-2?
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?”In those two verses, Paul emphasizes the fact that true repentance always results in either the cessation of sin or at least the hindering of the full expression of sin. The pattern the New Testament holds before us is one of progressive righteousness in the life of the true believer, not unrelenting “living” in sin.
If Ravi did repent, as you say, “… at many stages of his life, publicly and privately”, then why did the pattern of sin go on unabated throughout his life? Ravi not only persisted in his sin but went to great lengths to finance it and hide it from those he should have been accountable.
2. Bearing that in mind isn’t the best description of Ravi Zacharias found in Jude 1:4
“For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed – ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality…”?
Harsh words. Let’s deal with the second of these two items today.
Dear kind reader,
Once again, thank you for your kind comment and great points.
In this letter, I want to deal with two incredibly dangerous habits that we, Christians, seem to keep falling into and yet find no reason to correct in ourselves.
Quoting Out Of Context
This is one of the most horrible habits I see in the Church today. We quote out of context and see no problem in it. We point at others and ‘tsk-tsk-tsk’ at their bad habits and mistakes. To give our rifles more ammo, we pick out verses and passages from the Bible but refuse to understand the context and so we end up condemning ourselves.
If not the entire book of Jude, which is only one chapter, can we at least read the entire verse that you have referenced?
For certain people have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into indecent behavior and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:4 NASB
Is it proper that you have purposely kept out the last few words of that verse?
Jude is obviously speaking here of those who never believed in God or in Jesus Christ but use the grace of God as an excuse to indulge in sin. “God can forgive, therefore, let us just sin.“
Are we suggesting that Ravi never even believed? The years of service, the books written, those were things he thought were myth and legend not truth and life? Have we seriously assumed the place of God as our own and claim to know the hearts of men?
I find it strange that now that the late apologist has passed away, accusations of infidelity fly around and suddenly we shove God out of His seat and say, “Ah, wretched man that everyone else is. Go to hell!”
Condemnation Out Of Place
With all my love and respect, my dear dear brother, let me say this: I believe strongly, and with all my heart, that any person who has looked on to the life of Ravi Zacharias and heard the accusations made, yet their response was one of judgement and pride, that person is playing a dangerous game. I question their faith.
This is the very reason why I felt the dire need to have this website.
Do you know what my reaction was when I first heard all the news? Honestly and genuinely, I fell to my knees and said, “Lord, if all the accusations are true and men like Ravi can fall, how much more can I? Would you guard my heart and mind? Would you protect me?”
This, I do not say with any intention to give credit to myself. In fact, I heard many other believers admit to feeling the same way.
We are forgiven but we remain frail. We are saved but our flesh remains sinful. The day we forget that is the day we call God a liar and prove that the Truth never lived in us.
May God have mercy on us when we dare take His place and point to our fellow believer and condemn them straight to hell. You have claimed that Ravi was prepared long ago for condemnation. Remember this, my brother, God will never use a person condemned to hell to spread His gospel. He will always save them first.
What can the righteous do?
- Draw nearer to God.
- Pray without ceasing.
- Look inward more often than outward.
- Desire to be held accountable ourselves first.
- Forgive others as God has forgiven us.
- Correct with love not pride.
- Leave place for God to deal with the heart.
Ravi preached to my heart. Unlike any other. The cloud that hangs over his legacy has been placed there by a force that is grounded and rooted at the Devil’s doorstep.
The same force that desires to keep America from reaching her destiny.
2 Chronicles 7:14 always applies
An apt verse and even more so in the times we live in. I agree, the Lord will not heal a land when His people refuse to draw near and pray.
I’ve listened to Ravi all of my life. The allegations against him didn’t line up with the testimony and message of the man I loved as a brother. I can only hear of the investigations and their results. I wasn’t there to witness or disavow any of the accusations. I can simply say that Ravi’s messages, writings and ministry are as valid as they ever have been. If I were to trash his books or CD’s from over 35 years, I might as well trash the Psalms, many of which were written by David, an adulterer and a murderer. God is the judge of all. Cancel culture simply doesn’t work with God yet to speak.
Hi James. I agree with you. This is precisely what I discuss in the “The What” page of this website. Thank you for sharing that. God bless you.
I first met Ravi in late summer 1975. Having seen enough bad examples prior to that time of what was reportedly christian, I had no interest in following that path but was struggling to find meaning and purpose for life. A friend recommended attending the first night of what was to be a week of Church services in which a really smart guy was speaking and I know you would enjoy him. You know the spin. I attended and was immediatey struck by two things;
– He was the best read person I had ever met to that point in my life. And being a high school dropout, I was a real authority.
– He was completely yielded. – to his open minded beliefs – to his willingness to serve others – and to truth in its original form.
Instinctively I recognized that he gave answers for questions that I hadn’t even formulated yet. His honesty was accentuated by humility and that allowed me to recognize the truth in what he said. I had been busy trying to get my life sorted in a new way of living. I blocked off every night during that week and we had dinner together a couple times. I kept in contact from that point forward and made sure to provide transport to/from airports whenever he was in the area for some personal time together.
My point is this, I could recognize that he was God’s man at that time. And he served his Lord thru people with whom he came into contact. Without his friendship, I would not have gone to Church. I would have no hope for eternity. I would not have seen how God worked to fullfil the lives of other Family and friends. Even our wedding was evangelical in nature. We will never know how God worked in the missions projects we participated in. I am amongst all men most blessed.
Final thought is harder. A business acquaintance once told me that nothing is better for a person than knowing that they are exactly where God wants them to be. And nothing is more frustrating than a person being in a position where they know God’s purpose has been fulfilled but won’t let go. Not wishing to minimize the seriousness of the allegations levied against Ravi, but I don’t believe them. And I could tell the last time I saw Ravi that he knew God had fullfilled His promises in Ravi’s life but couldn’t let go without a nudge. In my circles that is referred to as “a nudge from the Judge”. I look forward to the day when I can see Ravi again and to thank God for him and for the sacrifices made by his Family for allowing God to use him so profoundly.
As far as my heart can see, Ravi was a man after God’s own heart.
When I hear his sermons and the way he communicated with people, I see and hear the Love he had for Jesus.
When I read his quotes and articles, they speak to me and give me strength that the God I know in the Bible is the one and only God and He is a Loving and Merciful God.
As far as my heart can see, Ravi was a man after God’s own heart.
When I hear his sermons and the way he communicated with people, I see and hear the Love he had for Jesus.
When I read his quotes and articles, they speak to me and give me strength that the God I know in the Bible is the one and only God and He is a Loving and Merciful God.