THE SPRING AND THE HOSE

Dear Friends, 

This blog might make some readers angry. I ask that you read to the end, and if you still think I am in error, pray for me.

I have heard Ravi Zacharias speak in person three times. Each time I was both moved and helped. Over the years I have also found some of his books very helpful. I can say the same things about Bill Hybels. In the case of Hybels, I could see some of his weaknesses in terms of how he thought about the church, but I have been helped very much by some of his other writing and speaking. I now know, as do most of you reading this, that both men had very serious sin in their lives. Bill Hybels was removed from his position, and had Ravi still been alive, he would have been removed, and maybe would be in jail. Nothing that I am going to say below should be taken as me questioning that what these men did was wrong, or that their punishment was just. I want to address a different issue.

As a Christian, what should I think about all of this, that I was helped by their speaking and writing? How should you? Whether or not these two men have been helpful to you, the fact is that if I kept adding to the list of leaders and writers who were later disgraced, I would eventually come to someone that you would have to say, "I found some of his writing very helpful and formative. It was hard to hear that he had committed serious sin which eventually brought about his removal from his position." A couple of thoughts.

First, all truly good and wise things come from the Triune God, not from human beings. James 1:16-17 encapsulates the biblical teaching well, "Do not be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (NIV). It is tempting for me as a preacher and writer to think that I have somehow come up with wisdom, and that it is by my work that people are changed and moved. But this is a lie, and if I allow it into my heart I am only deceiving myself. All good things come from Him. It is the Father who draws people to Himself. It is the Lord who sends the Holy Spirit. All the glory is His. So, the fact that you and I have been formed in a godly way by someone who was later disgraced for their moral conduct, does not throw into question the good that you received. The good did not come from them, it came from Him.

Second, pray that the Lord will make you like a spring, and rescue you from your sinful desire to be a hose. If all of the living water comes from Him, and none from you, then you want to be like a stream, and not like a hose. In the case of the hose, water flows through it, but the hose is completely unchanged by the process. In the case of the spring, the water also flows, but it irrigates and gives life to the flora and fauna on the banks. So if you are called to preach, teach or write, pray that the Lord does not merely use you like a hose, but that as He uses you, His word and the Holy Spirit will grow the fruit of the Spirit in more and more of your life. There will always be a part of you that desires to quench the Holy Spirit. Pray that the Lord will help you recognize this sin, repent of this sin, and amend your life.

Third, the fact that the Lord has used you in a powerful way never gives you a "get out of jail free" card. We might think that we will never think this about ourselves, but that is, at best, self deception. We might think that we will never think this about a powerful preacher, apologist, evangelist or writer, but once again, that is at best, self-deception. Pray that your local church will have a wise and godly Board, that both encourages the preaching staff (because they will definitely have seasons where they need encouragement); prays for the staff (because they always need prayer); and keeps them accountable (because it is good for them and the church). 

Friends, be filled with gratitude that the Lord has not placed a heavy burden on us. Praise God that it is the Lord who is building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. (Matt. 16:18)

George+