For those in the field of Christian apologetics (that is, the defense of Christianity), the name Ravi Zacharias looms large. A world-renowned speaker and scholar of the Christian faith, Zacharias was well-respected for his vast body of work and his willingness to speak and debate at some of the world’s top institutions. I, myself, saw Zacharias speak in Seoul in 2016; and I’d listened to and read a lot of his work over the years. He was a great speaker who made beautiful and thoughtful points.
Zacharias died of cancer in May of 2019, and, while there were rumors and controversies prior to his death, a pattern of abuse and sexual exploitation really exploded afterwards. More than one investigation was conducted by law firms and third-party organizations, and they all found that the issues were even deeper than imagined. Not only did Zacharias use his position and power to commit several forms of sexual sin (in many cases, outright crimes by any legal definition), some of his organization’s leaders defended him and multiplied the abuses by turning accusations back on those who came forward. To say that a great deal of soul-searching and repentance must happen within the organization is a vast understatement. Even more may be needed, to include legal action. In the meantime, Christians everywhere should be absolutely sickened by the actions of both Zacharias and the members of his leadership team. They have committed an egregious crime against humanity.
In more ways than one.
Of course, one might think that there is far worse out there than a man in Zacharius’s position doing these things. That kind of stuff, sadly, has been going on continuously for most of history. And in a world that gave us Adolph Hitler and Jeffrey Dahmer, you may think you don’t have to look far to find an evil that can trump his actions. But to Christians who truly believe that the worst that can happen to a person is to experience hell and the wrath of God for eternity, this really is an evil that takes a more nefarious form than how it is viewed by the secular world. In the second chapter of Romans, Paul addresses this with Jewish “religious” leaders at the time, but oh my goodness, this sounds like it was written directly to Zacharius and his ilk:
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Romans 2:17-24 (ESV)
And there’s the key: “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” In other words, people look at the actions of Zacharius and his staff and use them as an excuse to continue in their disdain for God.
I’m a fan of the reformed catechisms – especially the Westminster and the Heidelberg. It was through them and other resources that I learned more deeply of the ten commandments, and what impressed me perhaps the most is that the commandments aren’t only prohibitive, but that they also have active requirements. And so, while they may ask “What is forbidden in this Commandment,” they also ask, “What is required?”
Christians generally grew up thinking the third commandment (second for Catholics) was all about not using “God damn” and “Jesus Christ” as flippant curse words. And of course, this is true (in case you’re wondering, I have no problem writing these words, because I’m not using them in a blasphemous manner). But it’s broader than that. Most people would probably agree (although knowing what we know now…who knows?) that Zacharius and his staff didn’t walk around using the name of God and Jesus as curses. But they did blaspheme, because they claimed to stand under the banner of God as his representatives to the world, and now the world sees “God’s representatives” as a group of sexually depraved criminals. They can confidently say, “This is your best? Hah!” It’s no wonder “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles” because of them.
So there it is for us – crime upon crime. Not just that they’ve sinned against those whom they personally assaulted and slandered (a crime for which they most certainly must pay in the present), but also that they sinned against those who look to them and say, “I want nothing to do with this God they claim to follow.” The poor souls who unwittingly continue, smugly and confidently, on a path that will lead them to a fate infinitely worse than a petty earthly offense.
Indeed, Zacharius and his crowd have committed a terrible evil — the worst in many respects — and Zacharius could quite likely be paying dearly for that evil right now.
There is a similar stain on a man who wrote a great deal of music in the Catholic missal. It’s a doubly egregious sin for the sin against those individuals directly harmed and for the betrayal of the trust thousands placed on him.