A Biblical Response to Ravi Zacharias

by Dale Partridge

In recent months, the late apologist Ravi Zacharias was alleged with several counts of sexual misconduct, rape, and manipulation. This news has been difficult to comprehend for Christians around the globe.

Questions from the church have filled the internet: “Does this mean that Mr. Zacharias was not really a Christian?” or “Should Christians still continue to consume his content?” and “Was his life’s ministry a waste?” Pastor Dale Partridge attempts to answer these questions with biblical principles in this episode of Real Christianity.

Resources from this episode

Book: Saved Without a Doubt by John MacArthur
Article: The Character of the Christian by Tim Challies
Article: Above Reproach by John MacArthur
Course: Break Free from Pornography

Scripture References

Proverbs 18:17

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
John 8:3-9

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
1 Corinthians 13:7

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Romans 5:20

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more…
Romans 6:1-14

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life…
John 10:27-28

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
1 John 3:4-10

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother [or sister.]
Matthew 7:21-23

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.
Philippians 1: 15-17

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Psalm 14:3-6

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever.

After watching or listening to this episode, what is your opinion? Do you have any questions or comments? Maybe you have something to add to the discussion? If so, let us know in the comments below.

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