Another day, another public admission of “moral failure.”
Sadly, it’s so typical it’s almost cliché. Most recently, we’ve seen the fall of Florida mega church pastor Bob Coy. And while the general public hasn’t gotten all of the details, we’ve heard enough to know the story well.
He isn’t the first individual to fall from grace, and he certainly won’t be the last. However, as we read the various articles related to Coy’s case, I can’t help but be reminded of the following ways that we can process and respond to this information in a Christ honouring way.
Grief rather than public stoning
My heart grieves for those who are connected with Coy, and for Coy himself. When Christian men and women fail, it sours the taste of faith for many. When this dubious distinction is connected to a public figure such as Coy — a book-writing, marriage-counselling, mega church-leading “man of God” — the adverse effects have the potential to become all the more damaging.
The easy way out is to cast judgement: to figuratively stone him until there’s nothing left. Can and should we keep individuals such as this accountable? Scripturally, there’s no doubt. We must. Paul spoke often of correction and discipline throughout his letters. He didn’t ignore sin, nor did he condone sweeping wrong actions under the rug. Instead, he outlines the reality of sin as well as the proper steps in bringing a brother or sister back to Christ.
However, we must differentiate between accountability and that of the judges’ bench. One is for the purpose of correction and (hopefully) restoration, while the other, in every sense, is final. As such, it can only be administered by the one true Judge, the Creator of all things.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Life Together, writes that we relate to each other only through Christ. If this is the case, and I believe that it is, then we must respond in a manner fitting those who follow Christ: focusing on forgiveness, soul repair, and a love that has the ability to overwhelm past (and future) sins. This response is neither weak nor watered down; rather it requires real strength.
Why do I forgive? I forgive because Bob Coy could be me. He could be you; he could be anyone who turns their gaze away from Christ for even one moment.
Proper discernment over pressure to act
Coy’s church gave a statement suggesting that Coy’s publications would be removed from all public postings. Some have seen this as a knee-jerk reaction, a quick move to stem the bleeding and distance themselves from the controversy. But quite frankly, all I sense is a group of people, though they’re shell shocked by the situation, who are unwilling to feed their former pastor to the lions. The discernment needed for a situation of this magnitude is immense; their need for Jesus to be the centre, bigger still. From my perspective, the church’s position served these truths well.
The reality of The Fall
All of this highlights a need for Coy to take a big step back (which he has). Those entrusted with speaking into the lives of others must be beyond reproach. Books, messages, podcasts, even if they’re written or recorded, are a form of teaching. If the individual’s life is in a place where he or she has been disqualified from serving in public ministry, then those teachings need to be handled with care until healing has restored the soul.
Could Coy lose his marriage? Yes. Does that make his words about marriage any less true? No. But his unfaithfulness has unfortunately added seeds of doubt; seeds which could grow into the loss of the ability for him to convey the truth effectively. The wounds are too fresh. But as time moves on, and as the desire to come to Jesus grows, this too may pass.
This situation is complex. But at its very core, it reveals the truth that all of us need healing of some kind. Therefore, as we process these sad events, let’s do so with the proper perspective: grieving, allowing time and space for discernment, and recognizing the importance of healing through the work of Christ.
Photo courtesy of Liberty University (CC).
