God understands the tendency for one in authority to fail.

—Bill Gothard (What I Teach)

The Bible is full of stories about God gifting individuals with particular qualities needed to lead and serve His people; yet, in his foreknowledge, God has already made plans to work through a leader’s failure. Those who repent experience his grace. Those who harden their hearts receive his wrath.

Either way, God glorifies himself.

This happens in every generation. Similar falseness pops up repeatedly in different disguise. Christian leaders fall all around us, decade after decade.

For most of my life, I have hated the blemish (to myself and to Christ) that comes from such headlines. I was sad and embarrassed every time a prominent Christian failed. More embarrassed if the man clung to a banner of innocence. And really put out when the ugliness of a cover-up was fully exposed by people outside the church.

Why doesn’t Jesus keep us from hypocrisy?!

On the other hand, there is something right about all of this… especially when the body of Christ takes a stand. Some leaders may be brought to their senses quietly. But silence from the church usually allows things hidden in darkness to fester.

I’ve grown to hate the silence as much as I hate the exposure of long-lived deceit. It’s appropriate for members of the church to take public action. If only a wave of righteous action would wash over the church at large and clean it up! After some initial distress, our world would find the change refreshing. The next generation would see an example to follow when false teachers arise in their midst.

In literature, a foil is a character often used in contrast with the main character, in order to highlight certain qualities of the main character. We are all foils to Jesus, for in our weakness he proves his strength (1 Cor. 12:9), and many purposely pour themselves out as an offering to him in their weakness (Phil. 2:17). Prominent “Christian leaders” take this to another level.

Our leaders prove that even the mightiest of men are of no comparison to our Lord. Their flaws point toward his perfection.

Their humanity points to a savior who stands above reproach and who empowers his body of believers here on earth. These failed men and women are foils, poured out for his glory, whether they want to be or not. Eventually his word and his church, over time, grind away that which is false. “God is light, and In Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

A fool for God, or an ungodly fool?

All of us would have loved for Bill Gothard to “make God look better” through true leadership. He has failed in both his teachings and his lifestyle. He abuses his power to prey on young women and undermine young men, split their families and churches, and benefit himself through their sacrifice. His sin is magnified by more than 40 years of deceit, including lies and cover-ups.  And his nature is being brought to light. His false lifestyle highlights his false theology.

It’s important to note that Gothard is being exposed by people who follow Jesus. His church. If Judas Iscariot could work signs as an apostle of Christ and be crushed as a footnote in the story, then Bill Gothard can certainly also be crushed by God as a footnote in the story that you and I share. We may never understand why God allowed Gothard to go his own way, but He does allow that of all of us.

For your part, do you want to be a willing foil or an unwilling foil?

Let me also mention that our God of grace frequently provides rescue for those who are misled. To the average person, those of us who are not prominent leaders, he may seem aloof with his plan and timing. Your personal decisions are dear to him, but not critical to who he is or what he is doing.

Somehow God accomplishes this rescue of individuals in his own way—a way not narrated in the pages of history books. But, occasionally, relief shows up posted as a blog.

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