Losing Our Religion: Credibility Gaps with Sam Allberry
Aug 16, 2023
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Sam Allberry, former staff apologist at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, joins The Russell Moore Podcast to discuss the devastating impact of Christian leaders with secret lives of sin. They talk about knowing when to leave or stay, grieving severed relationships, and how God's grace shows up in seasons of loss. They also touch on faith and doubt, growth in Christ, and discuss the ministry of Tim Keller. A nuanced discussion on credibility crisis, questioning faith, and the hope for greater things.
Institutional crises require clear guidelines and responsibilities for boards within Christian organizations.
Faith should be based on Jesus, not flawed human leaders, and God can work through imperfect humans.
In engaging with others, Christians should prioritize listening, understanding, showing respect, and exhibiting Christian character.
Deep dives
The Crisis at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
The speaker discusses the crisis that occurred at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, where serious allegations against Ravi Zacharias were revealed. The speaker, Sam Albury, who was a staff apologist at the ministry during that time, shares his experience and the intense stress he faced. The team was unable to process the situation together due to COVID-19, which further amplified the distress. The allegations that surfaced were not just isolated incidents, but a long-standing pattern of wrongdoing. The institution's response to the allegations was devastating, creating a credibility crisis and severely disappointing the team.
Lessons from Dealing with a Crisis
The speaker reflects on what he learned about how institutions handle crises based on his experience at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. The initial response from the institution was devastating, and it challenged their commitment to transparency and truth. It highlighted the need for clearer guidelines and responsibilities for boards within Christian organizations. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of seeking wisdom and discernment when deciding whether to stay and try to affect change from within or leave and uphold personal convictions.
Effect on Converts and Questions of Faith
The speaker addresses the impact of the crisis on those who came to faith through Ravi Zacharias' ministry and the questions they face. Some individuals may struggle with doubts about their faith after discovering the misconduct of the ministry's leader. However, the speaker reassures them that their faith was in Jesus, not in the flawed human vessel through which they initially encountered the gospel. He acknowledges their grief and encourages them to remember that God can work through imperfect humans.
The Shift in Cultural Questions and Conversations
The speaker discusses the changing nature of questions posed to Christians and the challenges of navigating cultural conversations. He notes that the questions Christians receive have shifted from accusations of being too moral or holier-than-thou to being seen as dangerous and immoral. In engaging with others, the speaker emphasizes the importance of listening and understanding, showing respect and care, even if there are disagreements. He encourages exhibiting Christian character in conversations, as acts of kindness and civility are rare in today's discourse.
Preparing for a Changing Church Landscape
The speaker contemplates the future of the church in light of the cultural changes and declining cultural Christianity. He acknowledges the vulnerability and weakness of the church in the current crisis but suggests that this may be an opportunity for God to work in a powerful way. He hopes for an awakening and revival, where none of the glory and credit will go to human achievements but solely to God. The speaker encourages Christians to trust in the Lord's wisdom and remain faithful amidst the challenges of the changing church landscape.
When the news broke that world-famous apologist Ravi Zacharias had perpetrated years of abuse, many evangelicals felt like their world had been flipped outside-down. Sam Allberry knows the feeling—he was a staff apologist at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) when the allegations emerged.On a new Losing Our Religion episode of The Russell Moore Podcast, Moore and Allberry talk about the devastating impact of Christian leaders who are living secret lives of sin. Allberry, a pastor, apologist, author, and speaker, shares what he learned about how institutions deal with crises and how he emotionally and mentally stepped away from the job. He and Moore discuss knowing when it’s time to leave and time to stay, grieving severed relationships, and how God’s grace shows up in seasons of loss.Tune in for a nuanced discussion of faith and doubt, growth in Christ, and gender and sexuality. Moore and Allberry also discuss the ministry of their dear friend, the late Tim Keller. And they point to the power of the gospel in discipleship, sanctification, and changing the lives of those we might be tempted to think of as far from God.This special series of episodes around Russell Moore’s newest book, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, explores the Christian faith in confusing times.Resources mentioned in this episode include:
