… in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. — 2 Corinthians 2:11
Christian leaders fall in all different ways. But one of the most common is for a pastor to have an affair with someone in his congregation. I’ve heard statistics that would probably alarm you of how very common that is. I don’t know if the numbers I’ve read are true, but if they are, they are cause for serious prayer on our part.
The Bible tells us that we are not ignorant of Satan’s schemes. Let me explain to you the possible dynamics behind a leader’s fall. I’m not pinning this on any certain person — I’m not in the inner circle here so I’m not giving away confidential information.
Step one: He lays the groundwork.
The enemy’s plan for your life begins generations before you are born. He works hard to get you born into the most dysfunctional family possible, because that makes his job of messing up your life so much easier.
Step two: He sows lies.
Once you come into this world, the enemy focuses heavily on your childhood. His object is to lace your mind with booby traps that he can set off later in life. My wife and I spend pray with people so that Jesus can disarm these time bombs. They usually come in the form of painful lies. They come in all shapes and sizes: God won’t protect me because I’m not worth His time. I’m all alone. I can’t find my way. I can’t do anything right. Something bad is going to happen to me. It’s all my fault. No one will ever love me. And so on.
How do these lies get implanted. It’s pretty simple: A child experiences something – usually something unpleasant like getting beat up by a bully at school or getting yelled at by an overtired, exasperated parent, and then the enemy whispers an interpretation into the child’s mind. A classic example is this: Parents divorce and the children conclude that the divorce is their fault.
Step three: He triggers lies.
Once the enemy gets as many of these lies implanted as possible, he works to orchestrate circumstances so that he can get these bombs to go off in our brain. For example, our boss might yell at us, and that may trigger lies like these: I can’t do anything right. I’m helpless. I’m trapped.
Step four: He harvests sin
Now everything is in place, for the enemy to offer his solution to our problems: sin. It might come in the form of covering up our pain with unrighteous anger. Or we might choose to deaden our pain with alcohol or porn or church activities. Or we might try to escape into the fantasy world of an affair. Or any of many other options — the devil has a large and varied dessert tray.
But this is not the end. God is also at work in this process. More tomorrow…
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. Dwight and his wife Kim provide prayer ministry for inner healing / transformation and coaching in prayer ministry. He is available to speak to your group or church. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.