The last two weeks’ worth of headlines have been very uncomfortable for me, as there have been a couple of high-profile, national Christian leaders who have stepped down due to sinful behavior. Even locally, this week a man was arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior while luring a minor.  

Some of the emerging details are completely disgusting to read, but what makes matters worse is the fact that some of those deeds were done by people who were ministers of the gospel.  

For me, it is truly hard to wrap my brain around such acts done by people who clearly should have known better and knew exactly how wrong their actions were. 

Now, if you are thinking this is a little bit different for an article under the category of faith and inspiration, you are right. But I believe a point needs to be made, even while we are mourning for both the victims of abuse, and for the black eye on all things related to God, which inevitably results from events like these. 

That point is that God is holy, and we are not. The Bible tells us much about this attribute that God alone has: holiness.  

I remember attending an amazing Ligonier Conference years ago, presented by the late great church leader R.C. Sproul, who wrote my all-time favorite book, “The Holiness of God.” At this conference, another one of my favorite Bible teachers and authors, Jerry Bridges, spoke on Isaiah 6, which tells the story of when the prophet had an encounter with the seraphim, who declared in Isaiah’s presence, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 

Sproul comments in his book that the seraphim’s repeating of the word “holy” three times was purposeful. He is not just holy. He is three times holy. 

Isaiah’s response to this unexpected encounter with the holiness of God is recorded with him saying, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips…” (Isaiah 6:5 ESV).  

Isaiah went on to be touched by one of these heavenly beings, who gave us an early depiction of atonement when he declared: “Your guilt is taken away…” (Isaiah 6:7). 

This early Old Testament type was given to Isaiah, and it came to fruition when Jesus went to the Cross, and became the sacrifice for all those lost, for all of us who are unclean, and for all who believe in His name.  

In an even greater way than what Isaiah experienced, those who believe in Jesus can experience a life touched by His holy fire. Lives can be changed. And our direction for eternity can be altered. 

So, as I mourn today, I must not “throw the baby out with the bath water.” I have to remind myself that while people fall and fail, I serve the God who doesn’t. And just because a leader failed, I can’t stop believing in the One who never will.