If You Defend Ravi Zacharias and Hucksters Like Him, You are Part of the Problem

This morning, I received a comment on my February 2019 article “Christians cannot sit on the fence concerning Ravi Zacharias.” It reminded me that even with the most recent shocking revelations about Ravi sexually abusing young women at his massage parlours (see here and here), there will always be people willing to defend the man for “the sake of the kingdom.” Here is how this commenter, “Josh”, put it:

“What is your end game Randal? I get the “exposure” thing, but what is your true endgame? You see, many people have broken the spell and lie of atheism partly due to RZ engaging debates and speeches. So he messed up. Okay, we get it. He lied. Not cool. But it’s out now…he retracted and we move on. I guess my point is this; I place things in 2 buckets as it relates to overall outcome. Bucket 1 is for “HELP” , bucket 2 ” HINDER”. If what you are presenting helps and moves folks closer to Christ – well done! However, if what you are presenting causes division, strife or confusion – hinders…then maybe check your heart. What is this really about?” (link)

Notice how Josh questions my motives: I need to “check my heart” and figure out what my “true endgame” is. Because Ravi HELPED people so if I point out that he was a habitual liar and sexual predator, apparently I’m HINDERING those people. I’m not HELPING them move closer to Christ. I’m HINDERING them by causing division, strife, or confusion. Interestingly, Josh doesn’t get around to mentioning how my actions impact those people that Ravi HARMED. Do they count?

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Instead, let’s try Josh’s logic for a moment with some other cases.

Why are you telling people that Father O’Reilly sexually molested your nephew? Don’t you know that many people have broken the spell and lie of the devil because of his ministry? If you raise concerns about your nephew (not to mention those accusations from the last parish), you will undoubtedly cause division, strife, and confusion. You will be HINDERING people, not HELPING them. What is this really about?
And why are you raising concerns about Apostle Praiseworthy’s use of ministry donations? Do you know how many people have broken the spell and lie of the evil one because of the Apostle’s deliverance ministry? So he messed up. Okay, we get it. Not cool. But if you point out that there are irregularities in his financial records now, you will cause division, strife, and confusion. I guess my point is this: there are two buckets: HELP and HINDER. If you get into the issue of the Apostle’s new Mercedes and his leased Gulfstream you will be HINDERING people, not HELPING them. What is this really about?

The truth is that people like Josh are indeed HELPING: they are HELPING to protect and enable hucksters and predators by seeking to shame and silence those who question them. And that leads me to ask:

Josh, what is this really about?

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