By: Brian G. Chilton | February 13, 2021
Shocked and betrayed. These are two words that describe my feelings as I read the report from RZIM noting the history of Ravi Zacharias’s sexually abusive practices. Ravi Zacharias was a famed apologist and author who launched the world’s largest apologetics ministry known as Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). At its peak, RZIM became a multi-million-dollar enterprise that employed numerous apologetic speakers in the UK, the US, and across the world. RZIM employed some of the biggest names in apologetics including famed Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox. Lennox holds a winsome demeanor, a frightening sharp intellect, and has debated some of the top named atheists of his day including Richard Dawkins.
Reports of Zacharias’s dishonest behavior began to surface when opponents questioned his doctoral label. Ravi was often introduced as Dr. Ravi Zacharias. However, he had not earned a doctorate degree. Rather, he was given doctorates from different schools. Anyone who has worked for and especially earned a doctorate at a legitimate, accredited school knows the difficulties associated with the degree. The title “Doctor” should never be given flippantly. Nor should the title be associated with a given degree, but only used of those who legitimately earned the title from years of hard work. Improper use of the title is insulting to those who have suffered through long and arduous hours to earn the title.
Additionally, in 2017, further reports of Zacharias’s dishonesty surfaced from Lori Anne Thompson, a Canadian woman who claimed that Zacharias manipulated her into sending sexually explicit texts and photos to him (Silliman and Shellnutt, CT, 2021). Reports note that the leadership of RZIM not only failed to investigate these claims when they were initially made, but they also hired an aggressive officer to intimidate the accuser and discount her claims—actions for which the leadership team now repents and regrets (Silliman and Shellnut, CT, 2021). Zacharias launched a lawsuit against Thompson in 2017. However, further allegations of Zacharias’s misconduct continued to surface as more victims came to light.
RZIM hired Atlanta-based law firm, Miller & Martin, to investigate these claims, perhaps due in part to the pressure placed on them by their fundraisers such as UK-based Zacharias Trust (Silliman and Shellnutt, CT, 2021). Their investigations unveiled shocking information released in a 12-page report by RZIM. Zacharias’s mobile device contained more than 200 images of different younger women, including nude photos of Malaysian employees (Crary, San Diego U-T, 2021). The investigators interviewed 50 witnesses and examined devices used from 2014 to 2018 (Silliman and Shellnutt, CT, 2021). They discovered that Zacharias had hidden his exploits under the label of “humanitarian aid.” He would provide funds for oppressed women through his massage parlors and other exploits overseas. He added the requirement that they were to have sexual relations with him in exchange for his help. He claimed that the women were blessed to have relations with him, that they were God’s reward to him for his ministry, and warned them that if they should tell anyone, they would be responsible for the millions of souls who would never know Christ because of his damaged reputation (Silliman and Shellnutt, CT, 2021).
How in the world did this happen? It was not as if there were no warnings. Apparently, atheist Steve Baughman had been tracking and reporting on Zacharias’s claims since 2015. Here we are now. A ministry that has done much good is now shamed and possibly damaged beyond repair. Additionally, the accusations of an antagonist of the faith were proven to be true.
The fallout from these accusations is immense. Lennox has excused himself from RZIM until the ministry rebrands itself as an independent entity. He noted, “The current allegations are of such a serious nature that I cannot be involved in any ongoing activity in the name of RZIM” (Silliman and Shellnutt, CT, 2021). Reports are surfacing that many have been, or will be, laid off from RZIM. Estimates hold that the ministry will only operate at 10% of the capacity that it did at its peak when the cutbacks are complete. Even then, those estimates are optimistic.
Let me be clear: I was among those fooled by Zacharias. When Zacharias passed, I wrote an article for Bellator Christi that honored him for his honest pastoral demeanor. The article has since been removed from the website in light of recent allegations. Furthermore, others online have still defended Zacharias despite the evidence to the contrary. Tim Tebow and former Vice President Mike Pence spoke at Zacharias’s funeral claiming him to be a good, honest man.
Standing juxtaposed to these allegations are the teachings and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus certainly did not advocate such behavior. What does this say about the status of the modern church considering the teachings of Jesus? It seems like a perpetual narrative for the church in recent years. Ravi Zacharias joins an ongoing list of Christian leaders who have either fallen or have supported unChristlike behaviors. Yet standing opposed to these actions, Jesus commanded love. He emphasized integrity. He challenged the very power structures that the church seems to continuously form for itself. The fall of Zacharias reveals that the modern church has become eerily similar to the Church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14‑22). The Church of Laodicea had unlatched itself from its Christian moorings. They felt as if they could do all they needed to do without the help of Christ. They possessed all the goods they needed without Christ. They became a worldly church. Like the Church of Ephesus, they had “abandoned the love [they] had at first” (Rev. 2:4). The fall of Zacharias reveals three things about the church and its similarity to the Church of Laodicea.
Reveals our worship of celebrity status.
For a semester in 1999, I attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in Wake Forest, NC. I loved the school and had intended to complete my bachelor’s degree at SEBTS. However, circumstances beyond my control did not permit me to complete my studies at the time. While at SEBTS, I met several amazing individuals with whom I often met for breakfast on Friday mornings. I recall one pastor working on his MDiv telling me that he overheard a group of doctoral students who exclaimed, “I am about to become a doctor. I am going to be a pastor of a large church, will make lots of money, and will have many people hear me each Sunday.” The aged pastor noted, “Not only am I concerned about their humility, but I also wonder if they are even saved.” While I would not necessarily go as far as the aged pastor, he does address a problem found in the modern church and especially amid the apologetics community. Furthermore, I am reminded of his admonition as I hope to complete my doctoral studies soon.
The focus on being seen and heard, being the biggest and brightest, and becoming “untouchable” in popularity has overshadowed Jesus’s call to serve the Lord in humility and grace. Jesus taught that if a person does something good, don’t broadcast it. Don’t let your “left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matt. 6:3). Jesus says, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven” (Matt. 6:1). Yet, it seems that we value celebrity status over humbly serving Christ. Because of the love of celebrity-hood, leaders shown to be guilty are still defended and the victims are further victimized. This is a far cry from Isaiah’s call to “Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause” (Isa. 1:17).
Reveals our inability to self-assess.
While the church should not become so obsessed that it looks for demons under every rock, it likewise should not simply give a free pass to leaders because of their celebrity status. Jesus challenged the seven churches of Asia Minor to self-assess themselves and correct any bad behavior. The prophets called for the same of the faithful in their day. Either the church corrects its problems or God will. Jesus tells some of the churches that if they do not correct their behavior, then he will come and remove their lampstand (Rev. 2:5)—indicating that God no longer approves or recognizes the church—or, worse yet, Christ will fight against the church (Rev. 2:16). For the Church of Laodicea, Christ told them that he would “vomit them out” (Rev. 3:16).
In many ways, we are to blame for the exposure of these problems. Jesus tells us that things done in secret will be brought to the light (Mark 4:22). In other words, correct your behavior, or Jesus will. Jesus’s words proved truthful in the case of Zacharias. Ultimately, all things will be revealed on the day of judgment.
Reveals our loss of a Christlike ethos.
The Sermon on the Mount is as controversial today as it was when Jesus first delivered it. However, it seems that the church has lost the ethos taught by Christ. Because of his political entanglement, Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, said, “A Christian writer asked me, ‘Don’t you want the president to embody the Sermon on the Mount?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not’” (Miller, SBC Voices, 2017). While I am sure the political pundits will claim that I am a weakling for calling out Jeffress on this matter, I fear Christ more than the politically-crazed minions of our day. Is this what we have become—replacing the teachings of the Author and Finisher of our faith with political allegiance and fervor? The same mentality was found when the accusations originally surfaced about Zacharias. They were attributed to political propaganda rather than claims based on truth. Sure, not every accusation should be believed, and a person is innocent until proven guilty. However, one must use discernment and investigate accusations when they are presented, especially when the accusations are as grave as the ones made against Zacharias. The church desperately needs to go back to the basics of the faith. We all would benefit from learning the ethical teachings of Jesus our Founder afresh and anew.
Conclusion
This article became much longer than was intended. But perhaps it should be. As a church community, we can no longer blame our problems on other entities as we have internal crises that must be rectified. So, where do we go from here? I think it can be summarized in four simple steps. First, we must regain our primary devotion to Christ. Evaluate the time we spend speaking of Christ and spiritual issues compared to the time spent on other issues. Second, establish our primary objective. What is our primary goal in life? Are we using Christ as a platform to be seen and heard? Or would we still serve Christ if no one ever knew who we were? Are we using Christ for our purposes, or are we being used by Christ for his purposes? Third, place ourselves in the fires of spiritual evaluation. Allow the Holy Spirit to evaluate your lifestyle and see if there is any wicked way in your life (Psa. 139:23). Allow God to expose sin and to correct it. Finally, always be transparent. If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear. It is only when a person lives in darkness that one tries to hide. Remember that the darkness will not be hidden forever. The light of Christ will expose all things in the end (John 3:19-21). We essentially have the choice to either bring our misdeeds before the Lord to have them cleansed, or have the Lord judge us by our misdeeds when he inevitably exposes them. As for me, I choose to turn things over to the Lord. I know I will have numerous things for which I will have to give an account. However, I realize that I am nothing without God. He has been too good to me to do otherwise. We all can fail and most certainly can fall. But what matters most is a heart of contrite repentance. May we all share that heart of brokenness and repentance. For those who are repentant, we must encourage and build them up in the ways of the Lord. The goal should be to restore the offender. But the person must be repentant before that can occur.
Even in our failures, God can have the glory if we give ourselves to his holy ways. But if we do not, then he will expose our failings and misdeeds. At the end of the day, each person must ask oneself what they are living for.
Sources
Crary, David. “Law Firm Details Sexual Misconduct by Global Ministry Leader,” San Diego Union-Tribune, (February 12, 2021), Law firm details sexual misconduct by global ministry leader – The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Miller, Dave. “Robert Jeffress and Romans 13: Troubling Comments.” SBC Voices (August 12, 2017), https://sbcvoices.com/robert-jeffress-and-romans-13-troubling-comments/.
Showalter, Brandon. “RZIM Apologist Urges Ministry to Repent, Address Failures for Mishandling Ravi Zacharias Scandals.” Christianity Today (December 15, 2020), https://www.christianpost.com/news/rzim-apologist-asks-ministry-to-repent-address-failures-mishandling-ravi-zacharias-scandals.html.
Silliman, Daniel, and Kate Shellnutt. “Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse Du…… | News & Reporting | Christianity Today.” (February 11, 2021), https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/february/ravi-zacharias-rzim-investigation-sexual-abuse-sexting-rape.html.
Unless otherwise noted, all quoted Scripture comes from the Christian Standard Bible (Nashville: Holman, 2017).
About the Author
Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com, the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast, and the author of the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. Brian is a Ph.D. Candidate of the Theology and Apologetics program at Liberty University. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years. He currently serves as a clinical chaplain.
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