The recent news of young Christian leaders who are renouncing their faith in the Crucified and Risen Savior is troubling, to say the very least. It is troubling for at least three reasons:

1.  The damage these denials do to those who are young in the faith;

2.  As leaders in the church, their faith lacked the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Their ministries were instead built on one of two false floors:  at best, an immature faith in Christ and a purely emotional commitment to Him; or, at worst, a desire for American Idol(atry) celebrity – a virtue in the 21st-century American church. In either case, we do not see the qualifying marks of the cross on their backs, the marks that every true disciple – and most especially, every leader – carries.

3.  The state of their own souls.

What if a man gains the whole world and loses his own soul in the process? 

Yes, former followers rejecting Jesus is always troubling, but not surprising. Why not?  

First, it’s not new. The New Testament tells of church leaders who forsook The Faith. Some were even colleagues of Paul. Writing Timothy, Paul feels compelled to publicly warn believers about a man named Alexander (I Timothy 1.19-20; II Timothy 4.14). This personal naming is significant. Elsewhere in his writings, Paul writes of false teachers and believers but does not identify them by name. I agree with Calvin who writes that this identification of Alexander by name tells us he was an apostate leader and likely a man who could harm the church because of his influence in the church. We can also point to Demas, Paul’s “fellow worker in the Gospel” who turned his back on the Gospel because of his love for the world (Philemon 1.24). This single phrase, “he loved this present world,” reads like the invisible title on the Instagram posts of many church leaders today. And, of course, we can point to the ultimate apostate in the New Testament: Judas. 

Second, not only is apostasy among Christian leaders present in our collective past, but it is prophesied in our collective future. Read Daniel and The Revelation for more about this.  

Following the recent announcements by these young leaders that they have renounced Christ, many in the church have written articles exploring why these “apostles” went apostate. Some of this is little more than social media gossip and worthy only of being digitally File 13-ed. But several of these articles need to be taken very seriously. The raw and right-on “call out” of the church at large by John Cooper of Skillet is worthy of every Christian’s face-on-the-floor-before-God consideration.

Though not the major thrust of his article, one statement made by Cooper is of particular interest to me as I write this piece:

“(W)hen it comes to people within my faith, there must be a measure of loyalty and friendship and accountability to each other and the Word of God.”

ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER

What this present day John the Baptist is talking about is relational isolation among leaders in the body of Christ – especially young leaders. It’s a fact and factor I’ve not seen adequately discussed as we have reflected on these recent apostle-become-apostate declarations: the fact that when leaders walk alone, they die alone.

Again, church history is filled with accounts of those who have renounced their faith in the one true God. Some who have left the faith state that the crossing over into error for them happened in a vacuum of real relationships – shared mentorship, and meaningful accountability.

They worked with others in ministry but did not walk with them. 

Gray hairs remember the moral failures of the TV evangelists in the 1980s, rock star preachers who walked alone, removed from the reach of real relationship by their exalted celebrity. In the years following their falls, some of these wrote of their relational isolation. As they preached the Gospel of right relationship with God through Jesus Christ, they lived in isolation from others. Their failure to recognize their need for real relationship erased any checks and balances on their fallen humanity. Their refusal to do life with mentors removed any human filters they could rely on to catch their mistakes before they became failures.  These omissions not only cost them personally but did great harm to others and to the work of the Gospel around the world. Missionaries who served in the far corners of the world at that time can tell the stories.  

Tough Truth of the Day: their relational exile denied their creation – and so, their Creator. In their pride, they imagined themselves to be like God, needing no one but themselves and their own company. In their arrogance, they believed themselves to be the exception to God’s design for all human beings. A fact of life:  God designed and built every human being with the need for real relationship and shared mentorship – life-giving, encouraging, confronting, comforting, challenging, relationship, and mentorship. Not only as a preventive step against failure but as a proactive step for health in every area of life and ministry. When we deny this truth by walking alone in ministry, we are putting the barrel of a gun to our brains, hearts, and spirits. We are not built to walk alone. When we walk alone, we die alone. 

Seven church leaders speak to the issue:

1. Billy Graham: “Although I have much to be grateful for as I look back over my life, I also have many regrets. I have failed many times, and I would do many things differently . . . . I would give more attention to fellowship with other Christians, who could teach me and encourage me (and even rebuke me when necessary).”

2. Gordon MacDonald: “Most (ministers) would be tempted to think that cultivating special friends is something done over andabove our work.  I have come to believe that the developing of special friends is part of our work.” From his book, Restoring Your Spiritual Passion

3. Jimmy Dodd: “Because sin flourishes in isolation, community is one of the cosmic antidotes to human depravity, the primary answer being Jesus.  We have not been created by God to live lives characterized by loneliness, remoteness, and isolation.  We have been created for community.” From his book, Survive or Thrive

4. James Emery White: “One of the more unsettling revelations to most Christ followers, particularly in light of our fierce individualism, is how many of the marks of a Christian involve other people . . . Following Him is tied to the “one anothers.” From his book, Serious Times

5. Eddie Gibbs: “It is within relational networks that people are transformed through mutual encouragement and correction, learn to respond to each other’s needs instead of being self-focused.” From his book, The Journey of Ministry

6. Charles Colson: “Though I know intellectually how vulnerable I am to pride and power, I am the last one to know when I succumb to their seduction. That’s why spiritual Lone Rangers are so dangerous – and why we must depend on trusted brothers and sisters who love us enough to tell us the truth.”

7. John Milton: “Loneliness (being alone-ness) is the first thing which God’s eye named not good.”

And a bonus from Qoheleth, the “author” of Ecclesiastes:

“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4.9-12  (ESV)

CONSIDER JESUS 1.0

Has it become passé to say it:  Consider Jesus? 

But consider He whom we preach and sing about. Knowing that He had written into the DNA of every human being the need for life-giving, encouraging, challenging, comforting, confronting, cheering relationship and mentorship, andthat He had written it into every human being’s Operating Manual (The Word of God), as the model Christian leader, the Son of God lived by His own rules and prescriptions when He walked the earth.

Jesus called not one, but twelve men to be with Him (Mark 3). Called to Him as a group of twelve, Jesus sent them out in teams of two (as He would later do with the seventy). Why two by two and not one by one? After all, they were the twelve apostles. You would think as the twelve men who spent time with Jesus day in and day out, they could solo in ministry, right? 

And yet, Jesus consistently sent His ministers out in tandem with others. I believe the reasons were two:  encouragement and accountability.  One was there to pick up his brother when his ministry was less than it could have been. The other was there for his brother when his life or doctrine was not what it should be. 

Before and after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the 12 apostles (except the loner, Judas), walk together in life and ministry. One body of 12 leaders; 12 leaders, walking and working together – and walking with those who would succeed them, men like Barnabas and John Mark. It was a pattern that would be replicated in the lives and ministries of others.

WORKING TOGETHER IS NOT WALKING TOGETHER

Many confuse working together with walking together.  

These assume that because they’re working with others in ministry, they are walking together as disciples.  The recent renunciations by young Christian leaders are strong evidence of this delusion. Or – God forbid – these young ministers were walking closely in relationship with peers in ministry, openly expressing their questions and doubts, but their peers did not love them enough to address their questions walk with them through their doubts

I remember the day when a young minister told me that he was no longer convinced Jesus is the Son of God. He did not express this in anger but brokenness. How could Jesus be the Son of God when all of this young man’s prayers went unanswered? No one he shared the Gospel with came to Christ; there was no evidence of the Holy Spirit being at work in his ministry, no evidence that Jesus was keeping his word. As I probed his brokenness, I learned that this minister worked in a ministry “team” that was anything but a team. His fellow ministry team members were individual islands – they worked together in ministry, but did not walk together in relationship. It took us some time, but this young man’s questions came to rest on solid ground: Jesus met him in his doubts. And He did it through a human instrument.

But how many Christian leaders have no one to meet them in their doubt?  Even though they are part of working ministry “teams,” they walk alone.  Working together but not walking together. Denying their creation, they deny their Creator. It’s not that they say God is not God, only that they think they are like God: in need of no one but their own counsel, comfort, and challenge. They are the exception to His rules and His rule: “I don’t have to live according to God’s design; I am the exception; I can walk alone.”

TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE

When John Wesley was a student at Oxford University, he and followers of Christ formed what others derisively labeled “the holy club.” Wesley’s circle of believers looked to the Word of God and saw that while each person’s salvation was individual, it was not private: God had built each of them to grow and thrive as disciples by walking together. Their shared commitment gave the church “The method,” and later, Methodism.  At Journey Pastoral Coaching, we continue to use Wesley’s original 22 discipleship questions as a part of our shared accountability and growth in the faith. (Read here how we do it.)

When John Calvin formed and led the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland and France, the primary vehicle for doing so was his “company of pastors.” Pastors were required – required – to walk together in a mutual examination of their personal spiritual life, theology, and ministry. Pastors, young and old alike, met through the week to hold each other accountable in faith, life, and doctrine. Preachers even had to submit their sermons for review before preaching them. Doctrinal purity and personal piety were paramount in the company of pastors. Click here for Tim Keller’s excellent video on Calvin’s Company of Pastors.

Poet-singer and teacher, Michael Card, submitted every song he wrote to a circle of leaders for doctrinal examination and review before publishing and recording.  If a song lyric did not meet the standards of this circle, Michael rewrote the lyric. More than submitting his music do a review committee, Michael submitted himself, his doctrine, and his walk with Jesus Christ. Click here to read Russel Moore’s touching piece on Card and his coach-mentor, William Lane.

Sadly, all of this is lost in our day. Oh, we have lots of great “product” out there in the world of downloads and podcasts, but the profit of the song has become more important than the product of the singer’s life and doctrine.  The postable punch lines of the preaching have become more important than the product of the preacher’s life. Unlike Wesley, Calvin, Card, and others, today, as long as the singer and the preacher produce great product for us to consume, we give little thought to their doctrine, their piety, or their personal spiritual life. We give little thought to their soul care. We give little care to their soul. 

And now it’s coming home to roost in the church.  

Again, some offer valid explanations for these recent renunciations. Their declarations deserve the church’s on-our-face-before-God-attention. My warning is not meant to detract from their statements, but to add a necessary third dimension.  We must take their alarms and exit strategies seriously.  But they will only have teeth in the context of real relationship – shared journeys in relational peer discipleship.

CONSIDER JESUS 2.0

What does this look like? I suggest we return to the example Jesus gave us.  

Again, knowing He had written into every human being’s DNA a need for life-giving, encouraging, challenging, comforting, confronting, cheering relationship and mentorship, and that He had written it into every human being’s Operating Manual (The Word of God), as a human being with the same needs of all human beings,the Son of God lived by His own rules and prescriptions when He lived on the earth.

Jesus talked to thousands, but he walked with twelve.

Good enough for Jesus, good enough for me.  

Like Jesus and The Twelve, I’ll find a Circle of men, no more than a dozen or so. We’ll enter a room and close the door behind us, bringing nothing but ourselves and our Bibles – required. We’ll agree that what is said in the room stays in the room. And then, together, we will pursue this one question: what is it to be a follower of Jesus Christ, in doctrine, deed, and devotion? Forget the fluff; just give us the stuff of it. Ask the hard questions and give us the tough answers. Anyone can say anything, confess any sin, ask any question, express any doubt, claim any promise and the rest of us in the room will do everything we can to encourage, comfort, challenge, support, and, if need be – in love, with a servant’s heart – nail each other to the wall when we try to pull the wool over each other’s eyes, evade an issue, or give us an easy answer. We will do everything in our power to help every person in that room grow in the image of Jesus Christ, prepared to go back out into their place in the world, already anticipating our next time together. Just like Jesus and The Twelve.  I’ve been in a city pastors’ group like this, led groups just like this in two churches and a Bible College – we called them “The Circle.” I’ve seen and experienced the dynamic discipleship this kind of circle can foster. 

Jesus talked to thousands, but he walked with three.

Good enough for Jesus, good enough for me.  Like Jesus with Peter, James, and John, I’ll form an Inner Circle with three of the Circle of twelve and build an even tighter relationship, doing all I can to build them for next-level leadership now and for the time when I, as the leader-of-leaders, am gone. And I’ll call upon them to support and strengthen me in my times of celebration and trial. Just as Jesus did on the Mount of Transfiguration and Gethsemane when He called The Three to go higher up and further in with Him. Or, if I am one of the three, I will do all I can to walk with my peers and my mentor to grow in my doctrine, deeds, and devotion – not just for the leadership of others, but for my discipleship in Christ.

Jesus talked to thousands, but he walked with one.

Good enough for Jesus, good enough for me.  Like Jesus and John the Beloved, I’ll find one of the three whom I can call not just a member of the Circle, not just one of the Inner Circle, but “brother.”  And with Him, I will do life as a brother.  We will sit side-by-side at life’s table, à la The Last Supper. While carrying my cross and especially when nailed to it, I will look for and find him. And to him alone, will I give the most precious parts of my heart and life: “Friend, behold your mother; Woman, behold your son.” 

Why did Jesus do life and ministry this way?  Because this is the Creator’s design for every human being: He has built us for relationship.  And Jesus, being human, needed to live according to his creation, his DNA. Just as you and I do.  And Jesus, being a leader, knew that those whom he led needed to live and be built according to their creation, their DNA. Just as you and I do.  Not less because we are leaders, but even more, because we are leaders.

Jesus talked to thousands, but He walked with twelve. Jesus walked with three. Jesus walked with one.

WALK HIS WAY

So, follow Jesus, man or woman of God.

First, find for yourself a group of twelve, a circle, and go deep.

And then, from the twelve, go deeper still with three.

And then, from the three, go deeper still with one, Ecclesiastes 4.9-12, toe-to-toe, heart-to-heart brother-to-brother in the faith.  

And finally – pastor, preacher, worship leader – let go of your fascination with crowds and come to Jesus.  

Come back to the place where your primary passion and pursuit is not standing in front of thousands to express yourself or use your gifts and hear them respond to your sermon or song stylings with their cheers, but kneeling before the Audience of One to express your adoration to Him and hearing Him respond in whispers. Come back to real ministry: not before people, but before God. Come back to your original call: not to go for Him, but first to come and be with Him that you might then be qualified to go for Him (Mark 3).  Your public ministry to others is nothing more or less than the expression of your private ministry to and from Christ, the breathing out to others of what you have breathed in from Him.

Isolation. It’s the number one killer of ministers and ministries. It’s time that together, we slay this dragon. It’s time we kill this killer.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Support ministries like Journey that provide no-cost coaching for young ministers.  At Journey, our members don’t pay for being coached by an experienced minister, they earn it by investing in each other – shared relationship and accountability.  We depend on the financial partnership of others to do it. 

If you are an experienced minister, don’t consider coaching young ministers to an addition to your real ministry; consider it primary ministry. Think larger than your little c church (local) and think Big C Church (global) today and for the future.  Think Kingdom.

If you are not a minister, ask your pastors whom they are mentoring.  Ask them whom they are investing in.  Don’t let them spend all their time on you; insist they invest in other ministers, the global church, the Kingdom. 

Yes, apostate apostles are a tragedy and travesty. But once our head-shaking, tongue-wagging, and keyboard thrashing stops, it’s time to stop cursing the encroaching darkness and actually do something about it.  If you don’t, Pastor, you have no right or place to complain about the next time an apostle goes apostate. Your only right and place will be to ask yourself what you could have done to prevent it.

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NOTE: Journey Pastoral Coaching exists to provide pastoral coaching to Millennial ministers.

Saddled with large student debt, just beginning to set up homes and start families, and serving in low paying first and second positions, Millennials are those who most desire but can least afford to pay for pastoral coaching.

So we offer it to them at NO COST: Our members do not PAY for coaching; they EARN it by investing in each other.

We are able to do so thanks to the faithful and generous support of individuals and churches like yours who want to see young leaders not only enter the ministry, but remain in the ministry. If you or your church would like to help Millennial ministers in 20 US states and 5 nations build strong for a lifetime in ministry, please click here to contact us by email or to support Journey monthly or with your one-time gift. Thank you.

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“In the early years when I was becoming a pastor, I needed a pastor.” 

 Eugene H. Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir