Recently Francis Chan put out a statement on his crazylove.org website apologizing for his careless words he spoke regarding Mike Bickle and other leaders he had previously endorsed. Here is his statement:
I know that my endorsements of leaders who have later fallen have added to the hurt and heartbreak experienced by the Body, and for this, I sincerely apologize. To those who have been victimized, deceived, or discouraged by these leaders, I am praying that God will bring supernatural healing and comfort in the way that only He can. I also want to apologize for specific careless words I spoke when I said that people were “so foolish” for ditching Mike “because you heard something from a friend.” When I said that, I had in mind common theological critiques and unverified criticisms. In light of everything that came out afterwards, I regret saying that, as I realize I could have discouraged people who had legitimate concerns or given the impression that silence is best when there is real abuse or unrepentant sin.
I first want to say, personally, as a Senior Pastor of Vanguard Church a Southern Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, I have always had the highest amount of respect for Francis Chan and I know several people personally who know Francis and speak highly of him and his character and integrity. My response to Francis’ apology comes from a place of respect and admiration for him and his ministry and his attempts to serve the Body of Christ with truth and authenticity.
As a pastor I have observed the “celebrity pastor and minister circuit” and have at times tasted of my own flavor of it as well. I understand the desire to endorse, support, and promote other leaders who exemplify the Truth of God’s Word and the standard of His Scripture both vocally and actionably. However, I have also lived through the underbelly of the “celebrity pastor’ world and have observed leaders who have run for the hills in silence because sadly they had been duped by the leader or leaders they had previously endorsed and shared platforms with for Jesus.
Like it or not, we as pastors and ministry leaders benefit from the endorsements of others who are well known in the Christian community and more than likely this standard protocol will continue past our generation of leaders.
As someone once said to me, “If it makes dollars, it makes sense.”
Ministries need money to function, and ministers need endorsements to promote their ministries which allows for money. This may surprise you; I personally have no problem with this and believe that God is even in the “what” of this even if the “how” could use some improving.
Twenty-five years ago, as a good Southern Baptist I was drawn into the prophetic world by Jesus with a vision of Ted Haggard doing things he shouldn’t have been doing. I went through a ten-month testing period of this vision. I talk in detail about this in the book, The Mystery of 23: God Speaks. I eventually shared the prophetic word with Ted Haggard, and he confirmed the truth of it but then later in front of his presbytery led by Pastor Larry Stockstill from Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, Louisianna, denied it.
I understood the presbytery’s desire to support Ted. But five years later when it all came out, I couldn’t understand their private and public silence for what I had shared with them. I still don’t understand it twenty-five years later. I believe this silence is what eventually created a recent repeat performance at New Life in Colorado Springs with Pastor Brady Boyd and Pastor Larry Stockstill and the removal of these men as leaders.
I think it is safe to say we all like to endorse leaders that benefit us or whom we believe in for whatever reason. But I think Francis’ two years of silence begs the question, “Why now?” It appears leaders kept asking and a response was demanded.
Francis shared in his expanded statement that he wanted to be slow to speak regarding fallen leaders. But that slowness sends a message to victims that the powerful public person, even after they are caught, is still more important than coming out and immediately apologizing and supporting the victims.
For many years now I have stood against churches and ministries using nondisclosure agreements to silence victims who have been sexually abused by ministry leaders and pastors of churches. Hillsong, Gateway, New Life, and the list goes on, have used NDAs to “protect the integrity of the church” but sadly they have only prolonged the inevitable demise of the public perception of the character of churches. And sadly, we all suffer for it. God doesn’t need us to protect the reputation of His church. He needs us to stand on the Truth of His Word and proclaim the holiness of His presence.
I am grateful for how serious Francis takes his words and his desire to repent of his two-year silence and his desire to explain why. But I would also give a challenge to Francis and to all of us in the ministry, “Be slow to endorse and quick to confront” leaders who have fallen publicly.
Paul makes it clear in 1 Timothy 5:20 “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all.” God asks us to publicly rebuke our public leaders. He then says in verse 22 of the same chapter, “do not be hasty in laying on of hands.” God wants us to be “slow to endorse and quick to confront.” I can appreciate Francis wanting to pray through a public response before he responds, but I believe two years is a bit much.
It is time for the church leaders to show value to the victims. It’s time for us to be quick to speak for those who don’t have a voice and have been harmed by those who do.
It is time for the church to put to rest the practice of NDAs and dragging our feet to come to the aid of those who have been abused by those who are supposed to be protecting them.
It is time for us to confront the leaders who refuse to take ownership of their sins and the leaders who run and hide from taking ownership of their endorsements of those leaders.
Francis closes his statement with these words:
I don’t take my words or responsibility as a Christian leader lightly, and I am striving by His grace to walk out my calling in integrity and the fear of the Lord. I want to grow in both my desire for unity and my powers of discernment. Please pray for me as I try to walk in this difficult tension.
I don’t believe Francis’ character is in question. I believe his courage is. I am praying God will give Francis the courage to come out quickly in support of victims and slow in endorsing other leaders. Our endorsements are inconsequential to God’s plan, but God makes clear in Scripture we are to give voice to those who have no voice at our own expense.
Proverbs 31:9 “Open your mouth for the mute.”
It has been confirmed that Mike Bickle engaged in sordid sexual behavior that was both consensual, abusive, and potentially criminal based on the testimony of the scores of women harmed by him. Pastors and ministry leaders, as Paul told the church at Corinth,
1 Corinthians 5:1 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagan.”
It is time we stand up against the leaders of the church who are victimizing those who have no voice. It is time for us to lend our voice to them at our own expense. I would have loved to have heard from Francis what he will do “differently” moving forward. I would have loved to have heard from Francis, “I will be slow to endorse and quick to confront” moving forward. We need leaders who repent like Francis. This is a great example for me and all we other pastors who lead and represent others. But we also need leaders who say, “This is what I will do distinctly different moving forward” and I believe after two years Francis would know what that is.
Francis closed his statement with this passage of Scripture,
Psalm 103:10-13 “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion toward those who fear him.”
God does not forgive unrepentant sin nor does He remove it. It is an afront to Jesus to say so. God is great in his steadfast love to those who fear him and shows compassion toward those who fear him. He does not cast our unrepentant sin as far as the east is from the west. Nor does He show compassion to those who refuse to fear Him.
We have a responsibility as leaders to endorse slowly, confront quickly, and call publicly for true repentance of those who have abused those they were supposed to be protecting.
We must ask God to give us the courage to call fallen leaders to repentance so they can truly experience the compassion of God that comes from His holy presence.
I pray that God’s church won’t run from the burning building of fallen leaders they have previously endorsed, I pray they will run toward the burning building that is consuming the victims who have no voice or defense and have become exposed to the public humiliation that comes with being victimized by leaders who were supposed to have protected them. As the Lord said to me nine years ago, “You focus on what matters to me, and I will focus on what matters to you.”
And so, as a pastor, I will.
And so, I hope Francis, as a pastor, does too.
And so, I hope you as a pastor, ministry leader, or Christian volunteer, do so as well.
God expects it of his shepherds.
Lord, give us the courage to show your true compassion.
Blessings,
Pastor Kelly
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