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Mark Driscoll, Ravi Zacharias and John J. Geoghan: three men whose origin stories are remarkably different, yet all share one common attribute, they were known abusers of their spiritual position of leadership.   

Mark Driscoll, the former pastor of Mars Hill Church, a megachurch in Seattle, WA, was removed from leadership due to demeaning, sexist comments and fostering an abusive and domineering culture. An example of Driscoll’s character as a leader was on full display when he attributed a pastor’s infidelity to the fact that he believed the pastor’s wife had “let herself go.”  

Driscoll’s misogynistic and sexist rhetoric reared its head throughout his messages and persona.   

Ravi Zacharias, a renowned Christian apologist for more than 40 years, passed away in May of 2020. However, it came to light that Zacharias covered up rape allegations, sexual misconduct and abusive patterns during massages that he requested. It was reported that Zacharias had financially supported four personal massage therapists through his ministry fund.   

Christianity Today reported that, “One woman told the investigators that ‘after he (Zacharias) arranged for the ministry to provide her with financial support, he required sex from her.’ She called it rape.”  

John J. Geoghan, a CMichael Rezendes’ article reads as follows: “Since the mid-1990s, more than 130 people have come forward with horrific childhood tales about how former priest John J. Geoghan allegedly fondled or raped them during a three-decade spree through a half-dozen Greater Boston parishes. Almost always, his victims were grammar schoolboys. One was just 4-years-old.”   

These three stories do not stand alone in history as outliers in the realm of religion, they instead stand as landmarks or warning signs for other abusive patterns. Headlines in religious news have at times read like a traditional accusation from Clue: Colonel Mustard in the conservatory with the lead pipe has been replaced with: famous pastor, in the megachurch, accused of sexual abuse. This was never the design or intent for church, nor should this become normal. These heartbreaking headlines leave weighty questions lingering in the air. What is church in the first place? How could anyone have let this abuse continue on for so many years? How could God let this happen? How could those proclaiming love and mercy be so destructive?  

What is Church?  

A simple google search spits out results in .97 seconds with answers to this question, albeit seemingly unsatisfying answers, “a building used for public Christian worship” or “a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines.” The longevity of church and its global impact appears to result in a deeper definition and design for church. Church has to be more than a building for worship or just a particular organization with distinct doctrines, right? 

  

For church to bring people together, divide nations, destroy and restore homes all at the same time there has to be one key element: Three pastors, Dakota Jackson, Rechab Gray and Russ Lackey were tasked with defining what church meant to them and its true purpose.    

Dakota Jackson, the Salt Company Des Moines director and one of Des Moines’s Cottage Grove’s pastors, shared that the “church serves to love people and care for people well, and to be a missional outpost.”   

Jackson went on to share that God does not need the church, but he chose to utilize the church as a vehicle for love and a place for reaching the community well. [Text Wrapping Break]  

“The church should seek to love our neighbors and love those who are in the church and love those who are outside the church,” Jackson said. 

Rechab Gray, preaching pastor of New Creation Fellowship in Orlando, Florida and former pastor of Cottage Grove Church in Des Moines, said that he wants the church to “be the people of God who display heaven’s cultural values.” When Gray elaborated on the topic of heaven’s cultural values, he shared that the church should do their best to be “witnesses and ambassadors” and to proclaim and display the love of Christ.   

Gray emphasized that God’s kingdom will be a place “Where there is peace, harmony and joy. Where there’s conflicts resolved not by name calling or yelling at one another but by extending grace and mercy.”   

This heavenly kingdom Gray refers to is exactly what he believes the present-day church should strive to emulate.   

Rev. Dr. Russ Lackey, the campus pastor of Grand View University, said that, “Church is a place to give it (your humanity) back. And for one hour or two hours a week it’s a place where you gain your humanity back.”  

Lackey went on to share that church and religion itself is something that is meant to bless others. Citing examples of blessing others through food, ride sharing for students and praying over them. Lackey also acknowledged religion’s role within a variety of movements.  

“(Maybe) the three most human movements for rights in the 20th century, had religious leadership,” Lackey said.   

Lackey was specifically referring to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela as the key religious leaders of human rights movements.   

“Religion has the ability to speak into power because there is power that comes with it, and when it’s used to speak into power it can do some tremendous things,” Lackey said.   

This power that Lackey references also pairs with a deep trust that is granted to leaders and they are faced with a choice.   

“They can use that trust to do positive things or use that trust to do terrible things,” Lackey said.   

Church is meant to bless, it’s meant to love others well, it’s meant to restore ones’ humanity and emulate a heavenly city; however, church has clearly missed the mark at times throughout history. How has this mark been missed and hurtful behavior been carried out in a place that promises such hope? This tension leads directly into one of the lingering questions of spiritual abuse.   

How could anyone have let this abuse continue on for so many years?  

This question shined the brightest in the case of Ravi Zacharias and John J. Geoghan. Zacharias and Geoghan’s habitual abuse was enabled with a lack of accountability. Religion News Service reported on Zacharias’s former ministry spokesperson, Ruth Malhotra who eventually raised questions about Ravi Zacharias International Ministry (RZIM) for covering up sexual allegations. Malhotra is no longer with RZIM as she was fired months after raising questions about a cover up.   

Malhotra was quoted in her interview with Religion News saying that, “The leadership chose not to act when the evidence was right in front of their eyes,” said Malhotra. “I have less faith in Christian institutions — particularly when these institutions become breeding grounds for Christian celebrity culture — because I’ve seen firsthand how elements of entitlement, fame and fortune harm our own people and hinder our gospel witness to a watching world.” .   

Jackson echoed the dangers of this elevation and entitlement as well saying, “we can create walls around people (so) that they’re untouchable.” This creating of walls is especially dangerous within ministry.   

Another consistent theme that was shared by Jackson, Gray and Lackey was that there is a deep need for accountability within any church setting.  

“I think one of the biggest things is accountability, but accountability to the point that it is uncomfortable,” Jackson said.  

Gray reiterated the importance of accountability saying, “though there might be plurality, there might not be parity.”   

Gray shared the fact that even though there may be a number of people surrounding spiritual leaders, like within the Catholic Church, or a board of elders supporting a pastor, it does not equate to parity or equality. No matter the setting there must be parity. “Where there is no parity, there can be no genuine accountability,” Gray said.   

In Lackey’s personal experience, during his early time as a pastor, he shared the fact that he worked to keep himself from settings where there was no accountably. He worked to surround himself with others who supported that desire. Lackey’s desire to protect the trust that was granted to him as a pastor protected Lackey from accusations or gossip, but it also protected the church body from potential hurt.   

One extension of accountability, that carried equal wait from the trio of pastors, was that above everything else like charisma, teaching skills, spiritual knowledge or connections, character has to come first.  

“Their character is the most important thing about them, it is not about what their gifts are and those kind things. Somebody’s character has to be the number one thing,” Jackson said.  

Gray went on to give an example of a way to learn a great deal about a leader’s character saying, “Honestly, how a person responds to that two letter word (no), says a lot about their character.”  

One story that might not have the same level of glaring abuse as Zacharias and Geoghan was the story of Mark Driscoll. Mike Cosper of Christianity Today uncovers a lot of Driscoll’s story within his podcast, “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Within this podcast Cosper states that religious leadership becomes very dangerous when “charisma trumps character.”  

This trumping of character, lack of accountability, and covering up of another’s heinous actions were patterns discovered within instances of spiritual abuse. These patterns appear to have assisted in letting abuse carry on for many years. People in the immediate circle of the abuser have played a role with spiritual abuse but where was God during all of it? The message of the church is a message of hope centered around the hope that God provides. How could God let this happen?  

How could God let this happen?  

Dr. Guy Cunningham, professor of psychology at GV, addressed this question with a widening of the scope of the abuse of power.   

“I don’t think it’s endemic to religion, I think it’s common in almost all power relationships. We see it in athletics, we see it in the workplace,” Cunningham said.   

This abuse of power Cunningham references can be used to push away or abuse those that are submitting to whomever is in charge of them.  

Although the church is susceptible to abusive leaders, is God at fault? Gray and Jackson attempted to answer this question.  

 “God did not do that, if you have been hurt, you have been abused, gone through things in the church, it’s mankind’s creative wickedness that has caused that deep, deep pain and hurt,” Jackson said.  

Jackson continued on, sharing that the Bible is full of passages, specifically within the Psalms, that are full of people crying out to God in positions of pain and that God wants to draw near to those hurting.   

Gray shared a similar sentiment, “I think any person who is honest with themselves would be able to admit that they have tendencies towards hurting people.”   

He also shared the example and fact that many of our immoral actions or “sin” is restrained by our circumstances. Gray shared that what creates a perfect storm for abusive or immoral behavior is a lack of accountability and a lack of self-control in a position of power.  

When humans are placed in positions of power, their tendencies of hurting others or taking advantage of others may rise to the surface. Religion and church are made up of humans who may be placed within positions of power, and they are not immune to the temptations that follow.  

Cunningham drew a comparison with famous athletes or directors and their sexual abuse cases. There have been clear instances of abuse of their power over those under them, exploiting them for their own gain. For example, Harvey Weinstein, Larry Nassar, or Jerry Sandusky all provide parallels of those in positions of power in the sport and entertainment industry committing abuse.  

Even though church should be the last place abuse is uncovered; immoral actions from its leaders appears to be inevitable. God is said by Gray and Jackson to be with you through it all and ready to turn those experiences for good. Lackey echoes this idea as well, even after hurt, it is still a place where restoration can occur.  

“I am sorry that a place that is meant to give you your humanity back, is something that has taken it away,” Lackey said. “I do believe when church is at its best, it will help you live, thrive and flourish.”  

 How can a pastor wrestle with this truth that his colleagues may be following in the footsteps of a Mark Driscoll or Ravi Zacharias? How could those proclaiming love and mercy be so destructive?   

How could those proclaiming love and mercy be so destructive?  

Gray and Jackson clearly shared the impact that sin and immoral actions of leaders had on their own life and careers. [Text Wrapping Break]  

Gray said that, “Men with positions of honor falling into intentional sin, that took a lot of premeditation and all of that, it just was scary and devastating.”  

Gray also expressed that he had felt called into ministry before encountering the scary and devastating actions of spiritual leaders in his life, but these events caused him to be apprehensive of the field he felt drawn to. 

“I didn’t know if that’s just what power did to you or position did to you in the church,” Gray said.   

Paul David Tripp penned a book, called “Dangerous Calling” that navigates the heightened dangers that come with being a pastor. The book details how pastors or spiritual leaders should take great care of their surroundings and their own character to protect not only themselves, but the people they feel called to love. This book by Tripp helped Gray feel ready for pursuing ministry despite the scary and devastating experiences he had within the church.  

Jackson expressed that he was not only disheartened to see people in power use that power in very destructive and sinful ways, but that he has “lost trust in people to the extent of trusting someone wholeheartedly.”   

Because of this lost trust Jackson said that, “I have come to a point of saying I only trust God wholeheartedly, I only trust God unequivocally trust God and everybody else I believe in.”   

He went on to share that he does believe many people desire to love others well but to trust them completely would be an ignorant step of ignoring the broken, destructive patterns of humanity.   

“Although, yes, I have lost some trust in people,” Jackson said. “My trust in God has gone up through painful experiences and so knowing that He (God) didn’t cause it but that doesn’t mean He (God) can’t use the pain you’ve experienced.”  

Jackson and Gray both have been impacted by the destructive leaders and members of religion, they do not choose to ignore the vile actions of leaders before them or leaders to come. Both men have found a way to find hope amidst the brokenness and carry on doing what they feel called to through a higher, spiritual power.   

Cunningham reiterated that religion is not immune, as history has shown us, from abusive powers and that people need to be aware of this. Cunningham said pertaining to religion that, “a person can engage in anything an unhealthy way or a healthy way. A person can be devout and psychologically healthy or devout and psychologically unhealthy.”   

 This healthy way of engaging in religion or spirituality may look different for everyone; however, as stories of abuse and hurt pour out from the church those that find hope in a religion must face the reality that even those proclaiming mercy and love are not above reproach.   

Cunningham urged everyone to be willing to question what they have been taught or question any behavior that may feel unethical, this open dialogue and boldness can provide a healthy way for religion and spirituality to coexist with broken humanity.  

The question that follows, “How could those proclaiming love and mercy be so destructive?” Is this: “Is the hope found in God greater than the pains and hurts of this world?” This question cannot be answered through interviews or within a campus magazine but through other vehicles of communication.   

Pastors Gray, Jackson and Lackey all had to answer that question on their own while navigating their careers in ministry. Even though many of us find ourselves not within ministry, we encounter that very question: Is the hope found in God greater than the pains and hurts of this world?  

Sidebars:  

Note From The Author:  

Some final words here, if you, family members or friends have experienced abuse within the church or in any setting, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is listed at the bottom of this paragraph. Another number is listed as well, the Clergy Abuse Hotline for Iowa and its hours.  

I personally am a Christian, I have grown up within the church surrounded by stories of hurt, abuse, broken relationships, doubts and sadness. However, unlike others within this article, I have still been blessed to be surrounded by gracious mentors, loving friends, an eternal hope and a safe place to find my identity within Christ. Although these words may be deemed empty to some, I am sorry for any level of hurt or abuse you experienced at church. I hope that those that have experienced hurt and abuse can heal from that experience and that it can be used to help others. In the words of songwriter Jordy Searcy on his track “Explaining Jesus,” “I’m so sorry, for how it’s been. We’re broken artists. With broken pens. We paint our pride and call it truth. I’m sorry no one explained Jesus to you.”  

I am truly just another broken artist with a broken pen. I hope one day those that have been hurt by the church can find healing and hope, and maybe one day explain Jesus to me.  

Spotlight 

“Spotlight,” a 2015 award winning film starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, follows the Boston Globe’s investigative journalism team. The Boston Globe’s investigative team, Spotlight, navigates researching the history of allegations and sexual abuse cases within the local Catholic church in Boston. This investigative journalism brings to light systemic issues of cover ups globally within the Catholic church. Their first report released in 2002 detailed many of the victims’ experiences and how the church mishandled the allegations for decades.  

Another excerpt from Rezendes’s first report said that, “Before Geoghan ever got to Weston in 1984, he had already been treated several times and hospitalized at least once for molesting boys. And he had been removed from at least two parishes for sexual abuse. In 1980, for instance, he was ordered out of St. Andrew’s in Jamaica Plain after casually admitting he had molested the seven boys.”  

This excerpt, along with the rest of the Boston Globe article, displayed the sys-temic issue of reinstating priests that had sexually abused minors within the church. The articles written by the Spotlight team are still free to read on the Boston Globe’s website.  

Recently, in October of 2021, reports were released by the Associated Press on the Catholic Church in France that said, “Based on projections, the independent study estimates some 330,000 children overall were victims of sexual abuse linked to the church from 1950-2020. Of those, it estimates that some 216,000 were abused by priests, and the rest by other church figures such as scout leaders or camp counse-lors.”  This systemic issue of abuse within the church continues to be uncovered, and as the instances of abuse are uncovered, the words of psychotherapist Richard Sipe ring truer each day, “If it takes a whole village to raise a child, it takes a whole village to abuse a child.” 

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Church 

“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a podcast by Christianity Today’s Mike Cosper. This podcast delves deeply into the roots of spiritual abuse and the dangerous culture cre-ated at Mars Hill during Mark Driscoll’s tenure there. Diane Langberg, a Christian psy-chologist who supports those who have been abused, was interviewed throughout the series.  

Langberg said, “When abuse is done by a pastor who has a position of power in the church and part of that power is to tell people who God is and what He’s like. When those skills and that position and everything are used to sanction, what is in God’s eyes evil, whether it’s the sexual abuse of someone in the church, whether it’s the way he treats people with his mouth, his arrogance or things like that, it becomes spiritual abuse the way all abuse is. But then it also means that God has been dragged into it and He is on the side of the abuser. And I, after all these years, and I am a word per-son, I don’t have words for the kind of damage that does to a soul.” — The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill: Episode 2.  

The “damage to the soul” that Langford refers to echoes throughout the Mars Hill podcast. Cosper’s research and writing offer an important “porthole” into the lives of those impacted in a positive and negative way from Driscoll’s actions, the deep rooted issues of church as a whole, and the look ahead to restoration and hope through broken experiences.