By David Ettinger
Salacious Account
It was a salacious account, and I haven’t much to say about it other than to opine as to how Christians should react to it.

Jerry Falwell Jr. resigned his post as president of the Christian college Liberty University because of a sex scandal involving his wife Becki. Both admitted to Mrs. Falwell having an ongoing sexual affair with a pool boy named Giancarlo Granda. Other lewd accusations associated with this narrative are best left unsaid.
Rather than add my 2 cents to the manifold streams of commentary resulting from this story, I choose to take a personal approach.
Two Verses
Whenever I read about the fall of a Christian leader, two verses come to mind. The first is 2 Samuel 12:14: “However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme …” The second verse is 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”
All Christians would do well to consider these passages.
1 Samuel 12:14
David had sinned in the ugliest of ways with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). He lusted after the married woman, summoned her to his bed, slept with her, and she became pregnant. To conceal that he was the father, he ordered Uriah – Bathsheba’s husband – back to Jerusalem from the country of Ammon, with whom Israel was at war.

David filled Uriah’s belly with wine, making him drunk, then commanded he return to his home and sleep with his wife, thus making it appear he was the father. Uriah, however, refused as he could not in good conscious sleep with his wife while his fellow troops were engaged in battle. David countered by sending Uriah back and ordering General Joab to put him in a position where he was sure to be killed. It worked.
Later, the prophet Nathan confronted David on behalf of the Lord and condemned him for what he had done. He ended the censure by saying: “However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme …”
How had David done this? News of his sin would reach the pagans, causing them – the Lord’s enemies – to speak ill of, and mock, the Lord.
The lesson is clear: When Christians sin, especially publicly, we extend to unbelievers an open invitation to scorn and ridicule both God and His people. This is what is happening as unbelievers are having a field day deriding God, Christians, and Christianity.
This is what sin in the Christian does, even if done secretly. Every time I sin, I feel as if I have mocked and disdained God; that I have spit at His feet and repudiated the salvation He so lovingly and graciously granted to me.

1 Corinthians 10:12
In verses 1-11, the apostle Paul reviewed the sins of the ancient Israelites, who though basking in God’s bounty, were put to death because of their blatant sin. Paul tells the Corinthians – and all Christians since – that “these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved” (v. 6).
But Paul knew the ways of believers, how they no doubt thought, “We are not like the sinful Israelites. We belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. We will never sin in such a way!” To such misguided thinking, Paul rebukes: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (v. 12).
And this is my foremost thought regarding the Falwell story, namely, that this could easily be me. I know what is within me and what I am capable of. In fact, in my 34 years as a Christian, I have crossed a few lines I should never have approached, and things could easily have deteriorated had I not immediately repented and turned back.
That was when I was in my mid-30s, but even at age 62 I am not on safe ground. No Christian is ever on safe ground when it comes to sin as every one of us can fall into it if we give ourselves over to it. The fight against sin is an ongoing battle, and we must seek God’s strength at all times.
So yes, be disgusted by the Falwell account, but also personalize it and take heed: Not one of us is standing so securely that we cannot fall.
vicklea
August 26, 2020
We have to remember that we are not the final Judge and that we want God to be merciful to us. We are ALL sinners!
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
True, Vickie. Thank you.
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jarilissima
August 26, 2020
You wrote “When Christians sin, especially publicly, we extend to unbelievers an open invitation to scorn and ridicule both God and His people.” And I could not agree more.
Part of why people found this so gossip-worthy is because they are Christian. We are not only held to a higher standard, but unbelievers see our every flaw/mistake as PROOF that God must not exist! Or that we are ALL hypocrites! Or something similar.
Because I came to Christ later in life (in my 30’s) I tend to see “famous” Christians as sinners just like unbelievers and non-famous Christians. All in the same boat. Those people sinned pretty publicly… I hope it somehow helps them repent and get closer to God, not further away.
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
Excellent insights. So well said, and I wholeheartedly agree!
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Lady Quixote/Linda Lee
August 26, 2020
This situation with the Falwells is heartbreaking. What concerns me the most, is how many ‘baby’ Christians will lose their faith over this. And how many non-Christians, who may have been on the verge of giving their lives to the Lord, will be totally turned off by this.
For me, seeing these news stories is like deja vu, for two reasons. One, because my dad was a very strict fundamentalist church pastor until I was 12 years old, when he lost his faith and took up an immoral lifestyle. And two, because I worked fulltime for a very large international television ministry for close to three years in the 1980s, during a time when several televangelists got way off track, including the one I was working for. So I know first-hand how it can shake a young Christian’s faith, when their very popular, Charismatic leaders are caught in hypocrisy and grievous sin.
I am praying for all time young Christians that are wondering right now if Christianity is a fallacy. I pray they don’t go wandering for years through a dark desert of misery doubt, like I did.
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
Tremendous comment, Linda. We should be deeply concerned those young Christians you refer to, particularly who attend Liberty University.
You’ve hit upon probably the ugliest fallout from this ugly situation.
Well said, Linda.
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Lady Quixote/Linda Lee
August 26, 2020
Oops, my last paragraph was supposed to say:
I am praying for all the young Christians who are wondering right now if Christianity is a fallacy. I pray they don’t go wandering for years through a dark desert of misery and doubt, like I did.
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
I hadn’t thought of that, Linda, but you’re right: We need to be praying for those whose faith has taken a serious hit.
Once again, extremely well said!
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
And while I’m thinking about it, Linda, we need to pray for the faculty and staff at Liberty University, those who truly love the Lord. Pray for discernment that they can ministery to these young Christians and bring proper perspective to all that has happened.
Thanks for setting me on this course of thinking, Linda.
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Lady Quixote/Linda Lee
August 26, 2020
I’ve heard it said that however many people you can help with your ministry, you can also hurt that same number of people if you go astray. I know from personal experience how true this is.
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
Excellent … and sad … point.
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Angel at Watchyourlifeinpictures
August 26, 2020
To me, as an evangelical, he has and has had zero influence over my life. Never paid him any attention whatsoever.
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
Same here.
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
And thinking it about it further … Of course, he wasn’t a teacher or preacher that we would pay attention to him. The point of the story is evangelical leaders falling, despite who they are, and how believers should view these things when they happen.
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Angel at Watchyourlifeinpictures
August 26, 2020
What was he ever the leader of? I mean, he didn’t build anything. He wasn’t a pastor. He was just another rich guy on a yacht.
All he did was inherit what his father built.
He was never anyone known as a true leader in Christendom.
I think towards the end even his father sold out in favor of publicity.
In the circles I move in it’s always been thought that he was bisexual.
I’ve lived long enough to see that usually the sons and grandsons who step in to an empire in Christendom that their fathers built usually turn out to be bad leaders and sometimes men of huge moral failings.
Like Jack Schapp, Doug Phillips, the sons of Bob Jones, Tullian Tchividjian.
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Blue Collar Theologian
August 26, 2020
For me, Falwell himself is the reason why I NEVER considered Liberty. I know some Liberty alumni and they believe this is for the best for faculty, staff, students. It’s public, it’s ugly but the Lord prunes and cuts away bad fruit for His glory (not just at Liberty or Falwell but in my life as well). I take Moses’s caution seriously, that sin will find us out (even if it’s not public, sin will find me/us out). God can’t be mocked. We will reap what we sow, more than we sow, later than we sow.
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
So true from top to bottom. Thank you, Mandy.
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Tom
August 26, 2020
Good thoughts, David. What irked me about Falwell Sr. and then Jr. is they became heavily involved in politics and Christian nationalism. They both seemed to be pushing “morality” and “Judeo-Christian values” on their public platforms rather than the Gospel. When someone sets themselves up as the “morality police,” it’s only a matter of time.
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
True indeed, Tom. I agree.
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The Son Of God
August 26, 2020
Well!
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dettinger47
August 26, 2020
Well what?
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Lisa Beth
August 26, 2020
Not sure I agree with this, “Not one of us is standing so securely that we cannot fall.” Not at all implying that I’m infallible but the Bible says God can keep us from falling (Jude 1:24) and certainly the fear of God keeps us from sin. And the Holy Spirit mercifully warns us and warns us before sin destroys.
Secondly, if Jerry Falwell jr is actually a believer he would know that shepherds, leaders, teachers, kings…are held to higher standards and chastised/judged more severely. What was he thinking posing for a photo with his pants unzipped?
Thirdly, there is an oft error of inheriting Christian positions in ministries when spiritual appointments are solely at God’s command. That fleshly ‘busiess’ practice almost always leads to dishonor.
You’re stirring the pot again David! Press on brother.
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dettinger47
August 27, 2020
Thanks, Lisa Beth. I agree with points 2 and 3, but not point 1. I think you totally missed my point on that one.
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Lisa Beth
August 27, 2020
Maybe I did miss your point. James says “we all stumble in many ways” but Jude says God can keep us from falling.
We all stumble but falling is not inevitable. 🤔
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dettinger47
August 27, 2020
I absolutely agree: “We all stumble but falling is not inevitable.”
I would add one line to that: “Because of the Holy Spirit within us, falling is never, ever inevitable, but because we live in the flesh, it is always a threat.”
After all, Paul did warn us about taking heed, and 1 John 1:9 does say we are liars if we say that we don’t sin. But regarding the Falwells, that was a giving over of blatant sin, and I think that’s how all Christians sin … by giving ourselves over to it. (James gives us the steps to how it happens.)
Thanks, Lisa Beth!
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Lisa Beth
August 27, 2020
Amen brother!
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lifesavingprayers
September 6, 2020
Yes, we all have to take heed…we can fall short if we’re not watchful…Great message 😊🙏🏼
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