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represent the tip of the iceberg. Leaders who have fallen
from grace aren’t just at the major celebrity level, many
local church leaders make the list as well.
Pentecostal preachers seem to get more backlash
than others, when they fall. Perhaps because they
emphasize a stronger moral position than most other
Christian church leaders.

When Leaders Fall Others Are Adversely Affected—
When our church idols fall, others are affected. It
doesn’t matter whether it’s a mega-church pastor, or a
small local church preacher. It may even be a well-known
Bible teacher, an acclaimed musician, or a Christian
author. Adverse reactions happens.

In warfare, they call it collateral damage when
innocent bystanders become victims of a bombing
attack on a nation. It’s pretty much the same in spiritual
warfare. When religious leaders self-implode spiritually,
a lot of innocent people get hurt.
So many believers who have looked to these leaders
as their example, their inspiration, and the person who
most helped them develop a personal relationship with
Jesus. I have been on both sides of the spectrum. I have
been hurt by those whom I trusted. And, I have hurt
others who trusted me to be their shining example of
Christian rock-solidness, but I failed them.

People were hurt by my actions. Even though many
years have passed, my heart still aches today because of
the hurt that I caused others. It happens all the time and
at many different levels and sizes of church ministries.

“Christianity Today” reported on what they called,
“a growing pile of fallen leaders.” Whenever I read
something like this I feel sorry for the people who are