Bill Hybels

Another pastor caught with a lapse of moral character.

Another spiritual guide speaking one thing and living another.

Another Christian celebrity author with a book titled, “Who You Are When No One’s Looking,” whose books have to be removed from the shelves. 

It always hurts whether it’s someone you’ve learned under, someone you’ve trusted, someone you’ve been pastored by, or influenced by… when you hear of how they have conducted their living outside of what they have shared.

It makes me question the whole faith thing when those who seem closest to it can walk a hypocritical life for decades.

But I don’t think the problem is so much with the fallen pastor but with the communities who put mere men and women on pedestals… not because of their character but because of their charisma and their gifting.

So when you contemplate who you let influence and speak into your life… consider not the one with the most followers or the one with the biggest church or the one with the loudest voice but consider the one with a still, small, consistent voice weathered by years of faithfulness.