How Do We Seek Justice and Love Mercy When Ministers Fail?
In recent years, podcasts like The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill have captivated listeners by exposing the scandals of celebrity pastors and the ministries they led. Week after week, many of us eagerly awaited new episodes, drawn by a desire to understand what went wrong and how things could have been different. There’s a certain sense of justice in these stories—especially when they give a voice to victims who have been silenced for years.
These podcasts can bring necessary attention to abuses of power in the Church, but they often leave us with an unsettling realization: justice alone is not enough. For many victims, what they truly long for isn’t just exposure or consequences for the guilty—it’s acknowledgment. A heartfelt confession often holds more weight than a verdict.
Unfortunately, the Church has too often responded to these situations with cover-ups and lies. Institutions meant to reflect God’s truth and love end up protecting platforms, reputations, or jobs instead of prioritizing the people they were called to shepherd. This raises a sobering question: What is being protected? And at what cost?
When the Church loses sight of its purpose—to love and care for God’s people—it fails to embody Christ’s mission. A pastor’s calling is not to build a platform or safeguard their image but to faithfully serve God and the flock entrusted to them. So, what should a pastor do when faced with their own moral failure?
Confess and Repent.
Confession and repentance are critical steps toward healing—for the victims, the community, and even the minister themselves. It may cost the pastor their job, their reputation, or the stability of the ministry they’ve built. But if that ministry has been built on a foundation of pride, abuse, or unchecked power, then perhaps it needs to crumble.
Pastors who fail morally must place themselves fully at the mercy of God. Ministry is not about titles, platforms, or achievements; it’s about relationships—both with God and with others. If even ministry itself becomes a barrier to authentic faith and humility, it’s time to let it go.
Falling into the merciful arms of Jesus is not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of true restoration. From that place of surrender, a minister can begin to rediscover their ultimate calling: to be a minister of reconciliation. To reconcile others to God and to each other requires first embodying that reconciliation in your own life.
The Church must also step up and do better. We must stop valuing structures and institutions over the people they exist to serve. Justice is essential, but it must be paired with mercy, humility, and repentance. Only then can we truly reflect the heart of Christ to a hurting world.
Let us seek justice and love mercy, even in the hardest places. And let us never forget that our ultimate calling is to live and lead in the reconciling love of Jesus.
