Pastor Shane Idleman feels devastated after hearing that two of his "heroes" have fallen from grace within weeks, and the lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Lancaster, California, offers to answer questions related to this.
"No one is beyond the reach of Satan's grasp. Although I'm disappointed, my faith is not shaken because only Christ should be placed on a pedestal," he wrote in an article for Charisma News. All Christians fall, he said, since they are drawn away by their own evil desires. When they choose to act on their desires, then they commit sin.
Idleman said most church leaders believe that falling from grace is a situation that will never happen to them, but he said this is merely pride speaking. What they need instead is the wisdom to be humble that people always fall short of God's glory.
"Strength is found in admitting our weaknesses. Pride opens the door to compromise and unwise decisions; it ignores conviction. Conviction is not always a hammer to the head, it's a still, small voice to the heart. Sadly, many confuse God's patience with His approval," he said.
The pastor further said that a lot of church leaders are susceptible to putting God second and their ministries first, and sometimes they compromise holiness by rationalising sins instead of repenting from them. "The enemy attempts to draw us away from God's holy standard. Holiness is a vital weapon of defence against the enemies' attack. But holiness must come from brokenness and humility, not legalism," he said.
Idleman added that many build unhealthy relationships with the opposite sex, but church leaders must have tremendous steps of accountability in place. If a married person begins to develop feelings for another person, Idleman stressed that they should take steps as soon as possible to remove themselves from an inappropriate environment.
Church leaders sometimes fail to strengthen weak areas, and accountability is often breached or minimised. If one's heart is not focused on honouring God's word, then there is no security against sin, said Idleman. The demands of leading a ministry are difficult and can definitely take their toll on pastors, and sometimes they cite loneliness as an excuse to commit sin.
"Feeling a sense of entitlement is often the beginning of justifying wrong choices," he said. "God has given us the privilege to serve Him, proclaim His truth, and help others. Don't allow frustration and negativity to lead you down the wrong path."
