We could easily have titled this ‘The Fallout Continues’ or ‘Is This What It Boils Down To?’ The reaction we are going to mention here is one reason why we write the way we do. Christians and others take on vigilante action when another person commits a sin or crime they do not like.
First, after stepping down and resigning from his church position, Mr. Morris is removed from Mr. Trump’s Advisory Committee:
Robert Morris nixed from Trump’s Evangelical advisory board as Texas pols condemn abuse
Though he previously featured prominently in former President Donald Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, Gateway Church’s founding pastor, Robert Morris, who recently resigned in the wake of child sex abuse allegations, no longer has a role in it, a spokesperson for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign has said.
While Morris hosted Trump at Gateway Church in June 2020 when Trump referred to him and fellow Pastor Steve Dulin as “great people with a great reputation,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told The New York Times that he was not included this year.
“President Trump’s broad appeal among faith communities across the country is a testament to his unwavering commitment to upholding faith and the protection of religious liberties,” Cheung said. (source)
Second, like Mr. Ravi Zacharias, a television station is removing his content:
Daystar Television removes Robert Morris content from network after child sex abuse allegations
Texas-based Daystar Television Network, one of the largest Christian television networks in the world, has removed all programming featuring Gateway Church founder Robert Morris following his resignation amid an allegation that he sexually abused Cindy Clemishire over multiple years in the 1980s beginning when she was 12.
“We are deeply grieved and saddened by the recent and very serious allegations against Pastor Robert Morris involving the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old minor. In light of these events and a recently released statement by Gateway’s Elders, Daystar’s leadership has made the decision to remove all of Pastor Robert Morris’ programming from our broadcasting schedule,” the network said in a statement released Tuesday on X.
“Daystar unequivocally condemns the actions described in these allegations and remains committed to upholding biblical values as outlined in the Word of God. As we navigate through this challenging situation, we extend our heartfelt support and prayers to all those impacted,” the network added. (source)
It would be better if he were removed from these and other spiritual positions if he taught false doctrines rather than a 40+ year sin that was already dealt with. These actions create the scenario that Christians and others are not going to forgive any sin no matter when it occurs.
Plus, it creates the picture that Christians and other people will hold those dealt-with sins over the heads of the offender for as long as he lives. We are not just talking about Mr. Morris here. We are including all those Christians including pastors, missionaries, church leaders, and ordinary congregants in these statements.
How many people have had their lives and careers, not to mention their faith, ruined because Christians and others demand their pound of flesh far above what God demands? In this specific case, we can understand these moves better if Mr. Morris had not repented and lived a life that continually practiced this sin.
But he had dealt with it, he took his spiritual punishment and paid the price for his actions. No more should be required of him. God promises to forget our sins when we honestly repent and turn from our wicked ways.
Christians are not better than God and they should do the same thing when the person has truly repented. Keep in mind that we do not know the exact nature of his repentance or experience with God at that time. We are not judging that part of this story as we do not know what God did at that time.
What we are discussing is the attitude of those Christians and others who think they need to do more than God to make a person pay for the sins they have committed. People outside of those involved do not have the criminal or spiritual authority to demand more than those who have jurisdiction put in place.
People often forget their place and think they can add more to punishment or make the crime more severe than it is for whatever reason they may use to justify their vigilante and kangaroo court justice.
If God has forgiven his sin with that young girl, then no one has the right to hold it over the person’s head forever. Nor do they have the right to add more punishment or destroy the man’s life.
This brings us to the second possible alternative title of this piece. Is this what it all boils down to? Is a man’s or woman’s life reduced to one sin or crime that will not be forgiven or forgotten by the people?
If they have spent 10, 20, or 40 years of excellent service for God or humanity, is that all lost because someone does not like an ancient sin that was dealt with at the time? When did one sin or a previous sinful life overrule what took place after repentance?
What good is Christ’s redemption if Christians and others ignore the redemption and faithful life and refuse to restore someone who committed a sin? If anyone takes the attitude ‘God forgives but I won’t’ they are committing a sin just like the person they won’t forgive.
If they want forgiveness then they need to forgive those they refuse to. The Bible says if one wants forgiveness from God they must forgive others who wronged them. We are not speaking out of personal ideology here.
God has covered sins and forgiveness throughout the Bible. We must adhere to those words if we want to be an example to others and make an impact for Christ. Jesus said to forgive 7 x 70 and so far we have not seen 1 x 1 for people like Mr. Morris or Mr. Ravi Zacharias.
What we have seen is exacting a pound of flesh for a sin that did not affect anyone who is canceling Mr. Morris. Justice is not up to the victim to decide. God has already determined what is justice and it is best that we learn what it is and implement it properly if we want to truly restore sinning Christians to the church body.
In our view, a dealt-with sin is no match for a restored, redeemed life that obeys God’s word correctly. Despite what unbelievers want or say, the sin, once dealt with, should be forgotten. Coming back 40+ years later is not a Christian act. It is not biblical teaching and Christians must abide by God’s instructions correctly.
An exemplary life should not be trashed because of dealt-with sins. we do not stamp out all the good that was done because of that situation. If we do, we are sending the wrong message and no one will be qualified to minister for Christ in any capacity.
As Jesus said, we pull the beam out of our eyes first before trying to remove the speck out of other people’s eyes. These situations are people who have their spiritual vision hampered by the beam trying to pull a speck out of someone else’s eye.
These actions are uncalled for and these words apply to the accuser as well. If we want to set a just example for the world to follow then Christians need to follow Christ’s example and teaching instead of their own understanding or the world’s demands.
Christ at the example when Peter denied him three times. We would be missing 3 books of the Bible and over 3000+ conversions if Christ did to Peter what human Christians are doing to spiritual leaders today.
As we said in Part Two of this series, no one is held to a higher standard. We must all be held to the same standard as we are all sinners and have come short of the glory of God. If one has been redeemed by Christ, then we can do nothing but accept that redemption, forgive the person, find the right punishment at the time, and then help the person grow spiritually.
We are not given the authority nor the permission to stand in judgment of others or condemn them. The reason for not having that authority is that we are not better than Mr.Morris Let’s remove our beams, learn to forgive properly, and then take the God-led path to true justice.
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