Ravi Zacharias, Jean Vanier and Holding Our Heroes Accountable
I always write these posts with much fear and trembling. Ravi Zacharias is highly respected among my colleagues in the Christian apologetics community. For many evangelicals, he is an example of a Christian leader who finished well.
But did he?
Even during his life, there had been some accusations of some sexual impropriety. Now after his death, there is more evidence coming to light that Zacharias committed some serious sexual sins.
Again, some of my evangelical friends do not want to talk about this. He is dead. Don’t dig up the dirt. Let his positive legacy stand as it is.
But Ravi Zacharias preached throughout his life the importance of truth. Does that truth lose importance after the person in question dies?
An interesting parallel is that of Jean Vanier. If I had respect for Ravi Zacharias, my respect for Jean Vanier was far higher. His ministry was very different from that of Zacharias but like him, Vanier started an international ministry that continues today.
I was crushed when it came to light after his death that Vanier had taken sexual advantage of some women. Vanier was the one person I was confident could not fall. And yet he did.
There is one important difference in their stories. L’Arche, the ministry that Vanier founded, was proactive in looking into the allegations. When the evidence came in, they were extremely transparent about what had happened. They had every reason to protect Vanier but they put the truth first, even at the risk of losing some of their financial support.
I have not seen anything like this from RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries). I’m not saying that they should just throw Zacharias under the bus at the first accusation. But there are some serious charges being made and no public indication that they are investigating.
The impression that RZIM is giving is: “Ravi is our founder and friend and we will protect his legacy no matter what.” But what about the truth?
There is a future for RZIM, just as there is a future for L’Arche. But that future needs to be built on a foundation of truth and accountability.
Why do this when the accused are dead? If we don’t keep these leaders accountable, we are sending the message to the next generation of Christian leaders that you can do what you want as long as you have the right friends to protect your legacy.
