Ravi Zacharias In The Clutches Of Ungracious Christians?

            I am not going to claim that Ravi Zacharias was sinless; that he was not sexually immoral.

I am also not here to dispute the actions of various Christian leaders who responded to Ravi’s sins by either erasing his work or having disassociated with his ministry in some form or the other. That’s their call. Punitive actions may be necessary, as I said before; I am not here to dispute that.

            But I wonder and hence I request you to think if the Christian community were gracious in their action against Ravi.

At this point in time, Ravi (the sinner) has been punished posthumously. Ravi’s victims are passionately supported [maybe compensated] and being prayed for.

However, there is another entity that’s involved in this situation – Ravi’s family. How have they been treated by the Christian community?

Was the Christian community gracious in their actions against Ravi?

In other words, did Ravi’s family, in some way or the other, appreciate the graciousness of the Christian community?

To begin with, let us consider a few punitive actions taken against Ravi Zacharias:

1.      The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) which had ordained Ravi Zacharias revoked his ordination and expelled him posthumously.¹

2.      Ravi Zacharias’s books will no longer be offered by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, ““In September, when the most-recent sexual misconduct allegations against the late Ravi Zacharias surfaced, HarperCollins Christian Publishing immediately suspended all projects and shipments of his work,” said Casey Francis Harrell, vice president of corporate communications. “Following the findings in the independent report, the company will immediately take all his publications out of print...””²

3.      Christian author, Lee Strobel, announced that he would halt the printing of his book that featured Ravi. Similarly, Ravi’s forthcoming book Jesus for You will not be released.³

4.      Prominent Christian apologists who served with Ravi Zacharias at RZIM are actively erasing their association with RZIM. They want nothing to do with RZIM.

Essentially, there is a mass movement to erase Ravi and his works from the annals of Christendom.

In this very context, Philip Yancey’s quote becomes very meaningful, “Christians get very angry toward other Christians who sin differently than they do.”

The punitive actions against Ravi Zacharias seem to be a classic case in point.

Grace is nowhere to be found in and through these punitive actions. Why do I say this?

Sadly, Ravi’s son Nathan Zacharias describes the ungraciousness and the hypocrisy exhibited by the Christian community: (Emphasis Mine)⁴

Many of those remaining at RZIM, along with some former global leadership, have worked very hard to distance themselves from my dad. They’ve busted out their thesauruses and called him every name they think is appropriate. They’ve damned him, erased him, and expressed regret that they were ever involved with him in what was a very successful ministry. If they feel he should be erased and reduced to only the sum of his sins, then they have some hard questions to answer about their theology given the way God allowed his success while these things were allegedly happening. God sure is lucky to have them here to save Him from allowing Dad’s material to ever positively impact another person.

They can’t even acknowledge the reality that God blessed them (wrongly, it would seem, according to their logic) in their own ministries alongside Dad either. Of course they still benefit from the status that came as a result. 10 years ago, no one would have paid any attention to the statements of many of them. Their audience now is a result of the platform they got from their days at RZIM with Dad.

They want no piece of, him, association with him, or remnant of him. Nothing at all.

            Do Nathan’s words sound like the Christian community were gracious? Sadly, no!

            Nathan’s words reveal the hypocrisy of the Christian community.

Those who are actively erasing Ravi or disassociating with his legacy in some form or the other enjoyed [substantial] financial benefits and fame through their association with Ravi and RZIM. While they do not want to do anything with Ravi, would they, with the same intensity, return all the financial benefits they accrued over the years of their association with RZIM?

In his passionate blog to defend his father, Nathan Zacharias presents this scenario, “They want nothing to do with his ministry legacy. But they’re glad to hold on to his financial legacy.” (Emphasis Mine)⁵

Hypocrisy at its finest!

By being gracious, the Christian community could have ensured that the Zacharias family is comforted and encouraged through this gruelling period. Isn’t that the least one could expect?

Nathan’s words, showcasing the pain in his heart, reveal the ungraciousness and the hypocrisy of the Christian community.

The big question is this, how would Jesus have responded to Ravi Zacharias?

Knowing Jesus, HIS response would have been filled with grace and mercy. Knowing Jesus, HE would not have ignored Ravi’s family, who are in pain, enduring this tribulation.

That’s the Jesus the Bible reveals. That’s the Jesus we love, believe, and worship.

Have we been Christlike through our actions against Ravi?

You decide.

But when we think of the late Ravi Zacharias, let us be gracious. May his family be blessed with comfort, encouragement, strength, and peace from our Triune God.

Endnotes:

¹https://www.cmalliance.org/news/2021/02/12/statement-on-the-findings-of-ravi-zacharias-independent-investigation/

²https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/february/ravi-zacharias-books-harper-collins-lee-strobel-rzim-report.html

³Ibid.

⁴https://defendingravi.wordpress.com/

⁵Ibid.

Websites last accessed on 31^st March, 2021.

Ravi Zacharias Guilty Of Sexual Misconduct! What Do We Do With His Books, Sermons, And Open Forums?

        On December 23, 2020, the RZIM Board deemed their founder Ravi Zacharias as guilty of sexual misconduct:¹

In August 2020, allegations of sexual misconduct were made against our Founder, Ravi Zacharias. Unfortunately, Ravi had died several months before we first learned of these allegations, so we were unable to explore them with him directly. We engaged Miller & Martin PLLC to investigate these allegations, while also giving them wide latitude to go wherever their investigation might lead them...

However, while the investigation remains ongoing and is not expected to be completed until January or February, yesterday we received a brief interim update on the investigation we felt we needed to share...Sadly, the interim investigation update indicates this assessment of Ravi’s behavior to be true—that he did indeed engage in sexual misconduct.

            Quite a few sincere Christians wonder what to do with the many books, sermons, and open forums of Ravi Zacharias? They wonder if they should follow (take seriously) what a deliberately-sinning-servant-of-God wrote and preached or discard his work altogether. Some may even wonder whether they should continue supporting RZIM or not.

            Quite a dilemma indeed!

            Personally, I have listened to and read much of Ravi’s work. I also believe that God used Ravi Zacharias as a very valuable means to my growth in Christ.

            Now that Ravi has been proved as sexually depraved, can I undo that which I have learned about God from Ravi?

            That’s quite impossible.

            Do I now feel guilty for reading and listening to Ravi’s work?

            Ravi preached about God. God’s the source of all Ravi’s work. Ravi was a conduit. The conduit may have been flawed, but the source (God) is pure and perfect.

            Let’s consider this from another vantage point.

            The Bible teaches that all of us, which includes all the great apologists, evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc, are sinners (1 John 1:8-10).

            Everybody is a sinner. If one is sexually immoral the other may be suffering from greed or lusting for wealth etc. If not for that there may be spiritual pride in them, which is also a serious sin. The Bible also teaches that lusting after a man or a woman (who is not the spouse) in one’s heart is also a sin (Matthew 5:28).

            So while Ravi possibly was guilty of sexual immorality, other apologists and evangelists cannot deem themselves as sinless.

            There is not even one person who is righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10)!

            So every apologist, every preacher, every teacher, every evangelist is a sinner before God. If we decide to not learn from a sinful preacher or a teacher or a pastor or an apologist, then we cannot learn from anyone.

            Significantly, let us not forget the fact that it was God who gave Ravi the gifts of preaching, teaching, and writing.

            Ravi was such a celebrated writer and speaker. Somewhere down the line, he sinned against God and probably continued sinning. But God did not take away the gifts from Ravi.

            HE allowed Ravi to serve HIM.

            If God allowed Ravi to serve HIM while he was deliberately sinning, why can’t you and I continue learning from the work of Ravi Zacharias?

            If God found Ravi worthy of these gifts knowing full well that this servant of God would grievously sin against HIM, then we should continue learning from Ravi’s ministry. 

            Does this mean that God’s servants can sin intentionally and get away with it?

            No, a servant of God must not sin intentionally. However, a servant of God cannot be sinless and perfect.

            Every human being is flawed. We know it and God knows it. We constantly strive to resist temptation, but when we sin, we confess and repent and strive earnestly to not sin again.

            Although we resonate with Apostle Paul’s thoughts in Romans 7: 14-25 our life is excellently summarized in Romans 8:13-14 that says, “(for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.”

            Unfortunately, Ravi is being clobbered by quite a few Christian leaders. Should we also find fault with Ravi?

            Thank God, Ravi was not a false teacher. HE preached Christ-crucified. However, he sinned grievously.

            But that does not authorize anyone to slander Ravi.

            This is not an occasion to be angry. This is an occasion to feel sad for Ravi, his family, and his ministry. This is an occasion to pray for Ravi’s family and his victims.

            On a side note: I do not for a moment think Ravi is in hell. I am confident he would be in heaven because he would have confessed and repented of his sins and God would have forgiven him. (News snippets about Ravi in the social media during his last days indicate this.)

            To me, Ravi will always be the gifted servant of God – albeit flawed.

            The Bible teaches that all of us are flawed one way or another – from the great Billy Graham to everyone else.

            I will use Ravi’s life as an example to understand that even the so-called most gifted preachers, teachers, pastors, and apologists may not be as what they appear to be. While I will always thank and pray to God for all HIS servants – the preachers, teachers, pastors, and apologists, my loyalty and my worship will only be Godward.

            The pot should never call the kettle black!

Endnotes:

¹https://www.rzim.org/page/update-from-rzim-board-allegations-against-ravi-zacharias

Website last accessed on 29^th December 2020. 

If We Are Wrong About Ravi Zacharias Would We Be Wrong About Jesus And The Apostles?

             The last few years of Ravi Zacharias were turbulent. His integrity and his godly character were questioned!

            He who spent most of his life defending Historic Christianity had to defend the veracity of his own life, which he never failed to proclaim as being nothing short of godly. Today, in a very regrettable turn of events, we are forced to defend Historic Christianity from the atheists, who are citing Ravi’s life as evidence against the character of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

            The atheist slogan against Historic Christianity is this, “Christians, if you can be wrong about Ravi Zacharias, why can’t you be wrong about Paul, Matthew, Mark Luke, John, or even Jesus?”

THE ALLEGATIONS

            Let us first be aware of the allegations against Ravi Zacharias. Here’s a succinct summary:

            Exaggerated academic credentials: Ravi claimed he was a ‘Professor at Oxford.’¹ But he was not. When Ravi was questioned, he issued a written statement affirming he was never a professor at Oxford, “…And while I have lectured at Wycliffe Hall, I am not and have never been a professor at the University of Oxford.”²

            More controversy hovers around the prefix of ‘Dr.’ before his name, but Ravi affirmed he had not earned a doctorate degree, “I have never earned a doctoral degree and was never enrolled at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge.”³

            Sexting Allegations: A Canadian woman was reported to have sent her nude pictures to Ravi. Ravi, allegedly, according to this woman, continued his online conversation with her.

            However, Ravi, when he was alive, in a statement to Christianity Today, denied an extended online conversation with this woman, “Then, last year, she shockingly sent me extremely inappropriate pictures of herself unsolicited. I clearly instructed her to stop contacting me in any form; I blocked her messages, and I resolved to terminate all contact with her.”⁴

            Sexual Perversions: After Ravi passed on, Christianity Today reported the allegations of three women who worked for Ravi Zacharias at the massage spa, he co-owned. They alleged that Ravi harassed them sexually for about five years, “Three women who worked at the businesses, located in a strip mall in the Atlanta suburbs, told Christianity Today that Ravi Zacharias touched them inappropriately, exposed himself, and masturbated during regular treatments over a period of about five years. His business partner said he regrets not stopping Zacharias and sent an apology text to one of the victims this month.

            RZIM denies the claims, saying in a statement to CT that the charges of sexual misconduct “do not in any way comport with the man we knew for decades.” The organization has hired a law firm “with experience investigating such matters” to look into the allegations, which date back at least 10 years. RZIM declined to answer any further questions about the inquiry.”⁵

TRUTH MATTERS

            Even if we are to let go of the allegations against inflated academic credentials (because it happens most of the time with many leaders), we cannot ignore the allegations of online sexting and the alleged sexual harassment of three or more women at the spas Ravi co-owned.

            As Ravi himself often said, Truth matters.

            RZIM and C&MA (the ministry that ordained Ravi Zacharias) are conducting parallel investigations into the allegations. However, some people wonder if truth would ever be revealed to us:⁶

Even now, after revelation of shocking sexual abuse and harassment allegations by massage therapists at spas Zacharias co-owned, RZIM seems bent on denial. Though RZIM has hired a firm to investigate the spa allegations, what’s telling is RZIM’s recent statement, labeling the accusations “false.”

So, before the results of any independent investigation, RZIM apparently has made up its mind. It’s likely, then, that RZIM’s “investigation” will not be an attempt to discover the truth, but rather a ruse to justify a foregone conclusion.

The law firm RZIM hired for the investigation, Miller & Martin, is telling, as well. The firm has been accused of fraud and appears to have little expertise in sexual harassment and abuse cases.

But what’s most concerning is that Miller & Martin promotes itself as an expert in “crisis management.” On its website, the firm states that its crisis management team “aggressively pursues avoidance” and helps “limit” the amount that a crisis “damage(s) a client’s brand.”

This is not a firm that an organization committed to truth and transparency would hire for its “independent” investigation.

            The truth does matter.

            But would we ever know the truth?

            I don’t know.

AT RISK

            Two groups of people are at risk. They need our prayers.

            Ravi’s family: With this alleged scandal out in the mainstream media, Ravi’s family, especially his grandchildren, could catch flak from our unforgiving society. May God protect them from emotional trauma and from all harms and danger.

            Ravi’s victims: If the said allegations are true, then Ravi’s victims need our prayer too. After all, they are also made in God’s image. Victims of sexual harassment need divine healing. Every single victim needs our prayers.

DEBUNKING ATHEISTS

            So atheists, upon surveying the allegations against Ravi Zacharias, throw a seed of doubt into the minds of naïve Christians. They ask, “Christians, if you can be wrong about Ravi Zacharias, why can’t you be wrong about Paul, Matthew, Mark Luke, John, or even Jesus?”

            To cast aspersions on the characters of Paul, Matthew, Mark Luke, John, or even Jesus based on the life of Ravi Zacharias is thoughtless and reckless on many counts. Let us consider two reasons as to why atheists’ contention is fictitious, deceptive and misleading.

            Mere Allegations: The sexting and sexual harassment allegations are mere allegations. Nothing is certain. Unless there is concrete evidence, Ravi stays in the clear. He remains innocent until proven guilty.

            If Ravi is not proven guilty, he cannot be the cause of casting aspersions on the characters of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

            Logically Fallacious: To doubt the characters of Jesus and the Apostles based on Ravi’s sin is ‘Bad Reasoning.’

            It is bad reasoning to say that there are allegations against Ravi, so we should investigate the characters of the Apostles. (Even if Ravi Zacharias is found guilty of immoral acts, one cannot doubt or suspect the characters of the Apostles or Jesus Christ.)

            To say that Ravi Zacharias is an adulterer, so his leader(s) would also be adulterers is not an adequate premise. It is plausible that the leader(s) would not be adulterers even though Ravi was one.

            A father need not be an adulterer, even if his son were to be one.

             If one or more followers of a particular leader practice adultery, then the leader cannot be doubted for adultery. The leader can only be doubted for adultery if his behavior leads to such a suspicion. Even if his/her behavior is suspicious, the leader is not an adulterer unless he confesses or is proven (with concrete evidence) to be an adulterer.  

            Without any concrete evidence, the judiciary would not entertain a plea to investigate the President or the Prime Minister or the King because one or more of their followers are practicing one or more immoral practices. It would be dim-witted to assume the leader to be guilty of the sin(s) practiced by the followers.

 BIBLICALLY SPEAKING

            The Bible categorically teaches that all men are sinners.

            This is not to say that all men are adulterers. Adultery is one of the many sins listed in the Bible. But no man can claim to be sinless and perfect (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10; 1 John 1:8). If Apostle Paul claimed to be the worst sinner (1 Timothy 1:15), it is a given that Ravi or you or me or any Christian are indeed sinners because we are vulnerable to sins. 

            I do not for even a moment think that Ravi ever claimed to be sinless. But, on more than one occasion, he claimed to be faithful to his wife Margie at all times.

            If Ravi was unfaithful to Margie and if he had practiced adultery, then he would receive from God what is due to him, for God knows what Ravi did.

THE CONCLUSION

            Let not this set a precedent for us to assume that all Christian leaders are adulterers or corrupt. (Of course, there are corrupt Christian leaders who deserve to be banished from their positions.)

            Although not one man can claim to be sinless, each one can reflect Christ to the best of his abilities. No Christian leader can be perfectly godly or perfectly Christlike, but they can be good and trustworthy. So let’s continue to trust our leaders, who have been appointed by God.

            Many of us would have loved, enjoyed, and learned much from Ravi Zacharias’ sermons and speeches. Let us continue to do so despite the apparent slur on his integrity.

            I have no connections with RZIM, but I still say that if you have been supporting RZIM, continue to do so if the Lord so leads you to. Remember that you give to God primarily (Cf. 1 Chronicles 29:14; 2 Corinthians 9:10-15). Man is a sheer recipient of your gifts to God.

Endnotes:

¹https://www.wthrockmorton.com/2018/08/21/blast-from-the-past-ravi-zacharias-made-himself-a-professor-at-oxford/

& https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmTPxgGuA7Q&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=C.S.LewisInstitute; watch the clip at 52:40.

²https://www.wthrockmorton.com/category/ravi-zacharias/

³Ibid.

⁴https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2017/december/ravi-zacharias-sexting-extortion-lawsuit-doctorate-bio-rzim.html

⁵https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/september/ravi-zacharias-sexual-harassment-rzim-spa-massage-investiga.html

⁶https://julieroys.com/ravi-zacharias-allegations-highlight-secrecy-cover-up-at-rzim/

Websites last accessed on 19^th October 2020. 

Thank You, Margie Zacharias!

            Ravi Zacharias may have been an apologist, evangelist, or a mentor to you, but to me, he was my virtual pastor. Ravi’s sermons will always be a joy to listen to. He was a fascinating preacher. He faithfully preached Christ Crucified.

            I know Ravi, but Ravi does not know me.

            My initial foray into apologetics was through RZIM India. Then, I learned more about apologetics from the Southern Evangelical Seminary.¹ Ravi has now passed on, but he will continue to teach me apologetics. Ravi’s work still remains accessible on the internet to every hungry mind.

            Thank you, Ravi!

            I have wondered how God enabled Ravi’s powerful ministry to you and me!

            It was only after Ravi’s passing that I realized his ministry would have been impossible without Margie’s (Ravi’s wife of 48-years) presence in Ravi’s life. This is certain.

            When I read Ravi’s obituary message touchingly written by his daughter Sarah, the mention of Margie loomed large on me, “Ravi and Margie just celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. My mother was entirely committed to my dad’s calling and to this ministry, believing God called them together. I cannot recall even one moment when I saw her commitment to this calling weaken, because she always placed unwavering trust in the God who called them and in His purposes.” [Emphasis Mine].²

            Naomi Zacharias, Ravi’s daughter, remarked there would have been no Ravi without Margie, “Mom, to honor Dad is to honor you. He would not have been who he was without your belief and support. He was a part of your calling – a beautiful part of it…” [Emphasis Mine].³

            Ravi also knew that his ministry would have been impossible without Margie. Ravi’s sister-in-law Barbara Reynolds emphasized this during Ravi’s memorial, “…He talked about his deep love for Margie and how when he chose her, he had chosen wisely; that without her, he never could have accomplished what he was able to do.” [Emphasis Mine].⁴

            Margie could have very well demanded Ravi’s greater presence in her life.

            So I thank God for Margie’s sacrificial life that enabled Ravi to travel 200+ days in a year for the sake of ministry. Margie sacrificed Ravi’s precious presence with her and the children to enable his precious presence in your life and mine.

            I thank God Margie did not seek visibility through Ravi’s highly visible and celebrated ministry.

            Think of one dreadful consequence for a moment.

            Had Margie sought to be as visible as Ravi, she could have ensured her travel with Ravi during most of his ministry. That may have robbed Ravi’s household of Margie’s invaluable presence nurturing their children.

            Ramesh Zacharias, Ravi’s brother, emphasized Margie’s monumental and valuable presence in Ravi’s life, “While Ravi travelled almost 200 days a year his amazing wife Margie of 48 years raised 3 beautiful children – Sarah, Naomi, and Nathan. So Margie, on behalf of RZIM, we want to thank you for all that you have done for the ministry. But more importantly Margie, thank you for sharing Ravi with the world.” [Emphasis Mine].⁵  

            God, through Margie’s supreme sacrifice, enabled Ravi’s ministry.

            Thank you very much, Margie! This I say from the bottom of my heart.

            Margie, you are an amazing testimony to every wife whose husband is called to serve Christ. I pray all Christian wives, whose husbands are called to serve God, would learn from your life. Thus, I pray that God’s servants would overcome Satan’s vicious attack on Christian families especially upon those who seek to serve God.

            Last but not the least, I thank God for blessing the Zacharias household with the hedge of protection (cf. Job 1:10) that enabled his powerful ministry to the seeking millions.

            Thank you Jesus for Ravi and Margie!

Endnotes:

¹https://ses.edu/

²https://www.facebook.com/RZIMfb/posts/10157796726026284

³https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBZxZG9nkC0 (Starting at 1:41:07).

⁴Ibid., (Starting 1:17:39).

⁵Ibid., (Starting at 1:10:45).

Websites last accessed on 31^st May 2020.

Why God Allows Evil Upon Christian Evangelists?

          34 year old Nabeel Qureshi was a devout Ahmadiyya Muslim. He converted to Christianity almost 12 years ago. He served as an itinerant speaker with RZIM, and is a best-selling author (Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, No God But One—Allah or Jesus?).

            Last year, the news that Nabeel had been diagnosed with cancer distressed the Christian world. His prognosis remains grim. A few days ago, the RZIM team bid their preliminary goodbye to Nabeel.¹

            God’s blessing upon a very young Nabeel is evident. His ministry has blessed many. Had God blessed Nabeel with a longer lifespan, multitudes might have been drawn to Christ.

            However, God’s plan seems to be different. Ravi Zacharias recalled Nabeel’s goodbye to his colleagues at RZIM, “Our itinerants all gathered, about seventy of us from every continent. Nabeel spoke to us on the opening morning. He told us that the doctors have given up hope and that there will be no surgical intervention (which was to have happened only if the chemo and radiation had worked). Medicine feels it has done all it can…To his fellow itinerants Nabeel came to say, “Thank you. I love you all and if I have hurt anyone, I ask for forgiveness. Most important, my faith is stronger than ever in my Savior and whatever lies ahead, I will take it as God’s will.” Then he said, “You will probably not see me speaking in public anymore and I bid you all goodbye.” He then looked in my direction to share his final words of affection to me and bid us goodbye. I was too overcome to say anything.” (Emphasis Mine).²

            Nabeel’s situation motivates a consideration of these legitimately perplexing questions that confound a thinking mind:

            (1) Why does God allow evil upon Christian evangelists? (Approximately two-thirds of this world does not believe in Christ. Aren’t Christian evangelists the need of the hour?)

            (2) Why does God terminate the life of HIS evangelists while they’re young? (If God extended the ministry of HIS most effective evangelists, many more would have been blessed.)

            (3) Is God not interested in the conversion of non-Christians?

            These questions, if not provided with valid answers, could prompt a misunderstanding about God. Alternatively, a correct understanding could benefit the thinking Christian to appropriately comprehend God and this situation.

Why Does God Allow Evil Upon Christian Evangelists?

            In a world that is largely non-Christian, the need of the hour is Christian evangelists. The Bible mandates preaching of the gospel. If God allows evil upon evangelists (not all, but some), is HE not detrimentally interfering with the spread of gospel? God’s inaction from the perspective of lack of protection seems to contradict HIS Word.

            How do we reconcile this existential and spiritual dilemma?

            This dilemma could be resolved from another vantage point. If we can biblically assert that God is not constrained to protect HIS evangelists, a plausible inference is that God could allow evil upon HIS evangelists in the same manner in which HE allows evil upon anyone.

            Therefore, let us wrestle with the question “Why Does God Allow Evil Upon Christian Evangelists?” from the vantage point of “Is God constrained to protect HIS evangelists?” 

            This question is predicated upon these premises:

            P1. Evangelism is the need of the hour.

            P2. Evangelism is the greatest Christian ministry.

            P3. Christian evangelists are more precious (in God’s sight / plan) than other Christians.

            P4. Hence, it follows that God should protect HIS evangelists (over other Christians).

            If we can invalidate one or more of these premises, the conclusion (P4) could be disputed. Then we could confidently assert that God is not constrained to protect HIS evangelists. Therefore, the situation of evangelists being affected by evil need not be an aberration in God’s plan.

            (P1) is valid, for the Bible affirms this premise (Matthew 28: 19-20; Romans 10: 14-15).

            (P2) could be disputed. There are many Christian ministries or spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28); evangelism is not mentioned as the greatest Christian ministry. One verse that implies evangelism as the greatest ministry is 1 Corinthians 12:28, wherein the term “apostle” (“apostolos” in Greek) could be misconstrued as evangelist. However, it is worth observing that the New Testament also uses the word “apostolos” to simply mean messenger without referring to any specific church office (Philippians 2: 25; 2 Corinthians 8: 23; John 13: 16 and cf. Ephesians 4: 11). Therefore, the claim that evangelism is not the greatest Christian ministry could be adequately sustained.

            (P3) could also be disputed. The Bible does not dichotomize or provide hierarchy among Christian ministers. Furthermore, God cannot be partial to anyone (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9). Hence, the argument that “Christian evangelists are more precious (in God’s sight / plan) than other Christians” is invalid.

            Since (P2) and (P3) are invalid premises, it then follows that God is not constrained to protect HIS evangelists (over other Christians or anyone for that matter).  Therefore, God can allow evil upon HIS evangelists just as how he allows evil upon anyone.

Why Does God Terminate The Life Of HIS Evangelists While They’re Young?

            Unless God reveals, we will not know the precise reason of the untimely death of anyone, let alone an evangelist. But the Bible reveals that the death of God’s saints is precious in God’s sight (Psalm 116: 15).

            (We use the term “untimely” from a human perspective, not from a divine perspective. God takes people out only when HE so desires. Hence no death is untimely from God’s perspective.).

            Our common sense suggests that it is improper of God to terminate the lives of HIS evangelists while they are young. A simple reason behind this line of thought is that if God allowed HIS evangelists to live longer, more people could have been drawn towards Christ. 

            The sovereign God, who raised David instead of Saul and Timothy after Paul, can always raise another evangelist. Therefore, neither does the untimely death of any of God’s evangelists be deciphered as an aberration in God’s plan nor would God’s work be blocked or decelerated by the untimely death of anyone.

Is God Not Interested In The Conversion Of Non-Christians?

            This is an absurd question for a mature Christian. But from within our context of evangelists dying young, this question does gain a semblance of meaning from the perspective that if God had blessed the evangelists with longer life, many more might have been drawn to Christ.

            The untimely death of an evangelist cannot assail God’s desire for people to love HIM. God loves everyone and desires that all may know and believe in HIM (Ezekiel 18:23; Matthew 23:37; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

            An omniscient or all-knowing God knows who would accept and reject HIM. So, at any point in time, there are those who reject God irrespective of the presence of the evangelists. Those who reject God do so out of their own freewill, for God would do everything possible for man to believe in HIM.

Conclusion

            We grieve when our loved one is in death bed. Death or the prospect of death is a matter of great sadness. An untimely death is a matter of greater sadness.

            But while we feel sad, we also rejoice, for the dead or the dying Christian would soon be in God’s presence. Hence we could respond as how Ravi Zacharias responded, “My dearest Nabeel, I love you, dear friend, and my heart aches to see you leaving this world so soon. But if it is of any comfort, you have so far lived the same number of years as our Lord and Redeemer. What is more, the world is a mess. We are still trapped by the fears of living in a world immersed in hate and living for matter, greed, pride, and violence. You will be freed to the joy of life where there are no more fears, no more tears, no more hate, no more bloodshed, because you will be with the One who has already shed his blood for you, where love is supreme, grace abounds, and the consummate joy is of the soul. The smile of God awaits you: “Well done.”

            “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for them that love him,” 1 Corinthians 2:9 promises.

            Your eyes will now see and your hands will now touch that which is the only Real estate.” ³

Endnotes:

¹http://rzim.org/global-blog/torn-emotions-a-visit-with-nabeel-qureshi/

²Ibid.

³Ibid.