https://subspla.sh/czcgrt3

Ravi Zacharias was a well respected apologist who led a double life. Publicly he was seen as a Christian, scholar, author, apologist and much more. Privately, he used his reputation and image to groom young women for the sex trade, primarily in the massage business.

Ravi Zacharias International Ministry or RZIM, stepped up and investigated accusations after Ravi's death. They have handled and are handling this horrible situation the right way. There is no coverup and to this point. There doesn't seem to be any kind of power play going on by RZIM.

I'd like to read your thoughts.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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https://subspla.sh/czcgrt3

Ravi Zacharias was a well respected apologist who led a double life. Publicly he was seen as a Christian, scholar, author, apologist and much more. Privately, he used his reputation and image to groom young women for the sex trade, primarily in the massage business.

Ravi Zacharias International Ministry or RZIM, stepped up and investigated accusations after Ravi's death. They have handled and are handling this horrible situation the right way. There is no coverup and to this point. There doesn't seem to be any kind of power play going on by RZIM.

I'd like to read your thoughts.

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There's a lot of sentiment that RZIM covered up or downplayed allegations against Zacharias when he was alive and doing his thing. Entire books have been written about it. If true, it doesn't really matter what it does now that he's dead. The damage is done, both to the ministry's credibility and the church at large.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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https://subspla.sh/czcgrt3

Ravi Zacharias was a well respected apologist who led a double life. Publicly he was seen as a Christian, scholar, author, apologist and much more. Privately, he used his reputation and image to groom young women for the sex trade, primarily in the massage business.

Ravi Zacharias International Ministry or RZIM, stepped up and investigated accusations after Ravi's death. They have handled and are handling this horrible situation the right way. There is no coverup and to this point. There doesn't seem to be any kind of power play going on by RZIM.

I'd like to read your thoughts.

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One of the saddest things I have ever heard. I hope I finish well. Ravi didn't.

bear2be2 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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https://subspla.sh/czcgrt3

Ravi Zacharias was a well respected apologist who led a double life. Publicly he was seen as a Christian, scholar, author, apologist and much more. Privately, he used his reputation and image to groom young women for the sex trade, primarily in the massage business.

Ravi Zacharias International Ministry or RZIM, stepped up and investigated accusations after Ravi's death. They have handled and are handling this horrible situation the right way. There is no coverup and to this point. There doesn't seem to be any kind of power play going on by RZIM.

I'd like to read your thoughts.

---

There's a lot of sentiment that RZIM covered up or downplayed allegations against Zacharias when he was alive and doing his thing. Entire books have been written about it. If true, it doesn't really matter what it does now that he's dead. The damage is done, both to the ministry's credibility and the church at large.

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I haven't read those books but, from what I understand, it is not that they covered up anything but that perhaps they didn't press the issue when Ravi threatened to resign.

Horrible

He had a lot of knowledge, but was a terrible man obviously.

I always like to add we all fall short in many ways, and we all do, but
this is far beyond the common failings of an average man.

He sexually abused many, and used his power and position as cover.

I know a Christian administrator that really looked up to him, this certainly burst that bubble.

Wolf in sheep's clothing

I am reminded by something Ravi used to say.

"Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay."

While this is absolutely true, Ravi obviously knew this from personal experience.

We have a family friend whose grandfather was a beloved music minister in a small town in Texas. I recall attending church with his family and he would tear up every time he sang Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing and it got to the verses saying "prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." When he died a few years ago, his family was cleaning out his office and found a false wall behind his book shelf. Inside it were videos of him engaging in sexual acts with young girls. Disgusting stuff. That man's name is no longer spoken, all photos have been removed and there is literally no memory of him in their family. He destroyed his family and his witness. This is where sin can lead you if you let it gain a foothold. We must be vigilant.

From a pastor friend of mine when we discussed Ravi and another fallen pastor in a conversation a couple of weeks ago: " I always remember that I am not above committing such sin as them, so I need to stay humble before God and pray I'll never commit such things."

It's very sad, as smart a man as he was there is no doubt he knew better.

Certainly it is true that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but what he did was inexcusable, a deliberate betrayal of everything he proclaimed in public as well as horribly damaging to his victims.

JXL said:

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It's very sad, as smart a man as he was there is no doubt he knew better.

Certainly it is true that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but what he did was inexcusable, a deliberate betrayal of everything he proclaimed in public as well as horribly damaging to his victims.

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...and his family.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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From a pastor friend of mine when we discussed Ravi and another fallen pastor in a conversation a couple of weeks ago: " I always remember that I am not above committing such sin as them, so I need to stay humble before God and pray I'll never commit such things."

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Much like booze, drugs or gambling......sex can become a destructive addiction regardless of your particular career .

Shouldn't be harder on pastors/priests more than any other individual .

Canada2017 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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From a pastor friend of mine when we discussed Ravi and another fallen pastor in a conversation a couple of weeks ago: " I always remember that I am not above committing such sin as them, so I need to stay humble before God and pray I'll never commit such things."

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Much like booze, drugs or gambling......sex can become a destructive addiction regardless of your particular career .

Shouldn't be harder on pastors/priests more than any other individual .

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I agree, but the things he did would place most of us in jail.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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" I always remember that I am not above committing such sin as them, so I need to stay humble before God and pray I'll never commit such things."

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I'm going to get roasted but whatever.

You don't need God and you don't need to pray not to sexually assault people. Hundreds of millions of people manage to not do that without so much as ever saying a prayer

In fact that answer makes me a little ragey. First it's not condemnation of someone who clearly abused their position and second it makes it seem like "well, it could happen to anyone". It's not that hard to condemn that behavior and it really can't happen to anyone.

Forest Bueller said:

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Canada2017 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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From a pastor friend of mine when we discussed Ravi and another fallen pastor in a conversation a couple of weeks ago: " I always remember that I am not above committing such sin as them, so I need to stay humble before God and pray I'll never commit such things."

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Much like booze, drugs or gambling......sex can become a destructive addiction regardless of your particular career .

Shouldn't be harder on pastors/priests more than any other individual .

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I agree, but the things he did would place most of us in jail.

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Apparently ( don't know the bio of this guy at all ) Ravi would have gone to jail eventually......but he died.

However , lost in the rush to condemn Christian malfeasance is the amount of sexual misconduct perpetrated in other professions.

For example ( not picking on teachers BTW ) suspect there are far more predators in the education field.

Canada2017 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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From a pastor friend of mine when we discussed Ravi and another fallen pastor in a conversation a couple of weeks ago: " I always remember that I am not above committing such sin as them, so I need to stay humble before God and pray I'll never commit such things."

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Much like booze, drugs or gambling......sex can become a destructive addiction regardless of your particular career .

Shouldn't be harder on pastors/priests more than any other individual .

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. While I can appreciate your view and you not judging more strictly, the Bible says differently. James 3:1 says " Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Christ will judge more strictly.

nein51 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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" I always remember that I am not above committing such sin as them, so I need to stay humble before God and pray I'll never commit such things."

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I'm going to get roasted but whatever.

You don't need God and you don't need to pray not to sexually assault people. Hundreds of millions of people manage to not do that without so much as ever saying a prayer

In fact that answer makes me a little ragey. First it's not condemnation of someone who clearly abused their position and second it makes it seem like "well, it could happen to anyone". It's not that hard to condemn that behavior and it really can't happen to anyone.

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I only posted an excerpt of the conversation. While Ravi was a portion of the conversation, a pastor who did something financially related is what brought up the comment. To put it in context, I mentioned that I get uneasy when I hear a Christian say I could never do this or that, referring to a particular sin.

How many pastors have cheated on their spouse or view porn or misappropriate funds?

nein51 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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" I always remember that I am not above committing such sin as them, so I need to stay humble before God and pray I'll never commit such things."

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In fact that answer makes me a little ragey. First it's not condemnation of someone who clearly abused their position and second it makes it seem like "well, it could happen to anyone". It's not that hard to condemn that behavior and it really can't happen to anyone.

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No one is defending his behavior or excusing it