When Pastors Resort to Murder
I am not a big fan of suicide. Suicide is the act of self-murder. When a popular pastor from Chino Hills, California, murdered himself a while back, I began receiving posts requesting prayer for his wife and three small children. My first thought was, “Huh, another one.” You probably don’t detect much compassion. Murder is sin, and sin invites judgment, not compassion.
In the aftermath of the crime, nobody demanded justice, as in the case of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, or Mollie Tibbetts. Justice is elusive in the cases of self-murder. Instead of calling the pastor’s action “sin,” he is pardoned by friend and foe, as being a victim of depression or mental illness. If other murderers are not classified as “victims,” why self-murderers?
I watched Pastor Andrew’s final sermon before his premeditated murder of himself. Later, I read another pastor’s interpretation of Pastor Andrew’s final sermon series. A couple years ago, a seminary classmate of mine, ministering in North Carolina committed suicide. I watched his final sermons, too. I found some similarities.
The private lives of these two young pastors were disasters. They were, however, wildly successful in their growing mega churches. Purportedly, they were both very gifted teachers. That is where I raise the red flag of inquiry.
As I watched both men in their hipster clothing, next to their Andy Stanley teaching monitors, on their respective darkened stages, I was stunned in both cases, at the utter shallowness of their sermons. Of course, neither held a Bible, and neither had a lectern for their Bible to rest. It mattered not, for their messages were not Christ and Him crucified.
Next came the public statement from both pastor’s wives. Again, Christ-less communication from them. In the wake of post-murder pastorates, one thing is certain: pastors and their wives need Jesus. He alone has the power to overcome sin and death, which He has demonstrated in His death, burial, and resurrection. We need Christ’s resurrection life, powerfully at work within us, for only He that is in us, is greater, than he that is tempting us to sin in this world (1 Jn 4:4).
Some do over-spiritualize demonic activity, precipitating these types of murders. Others blame chemistry or biology. The murderer is made out to be a victim in either case. Is God not the Maker of all men? Has He not shown us what sin is by His Law? Can we not agree that our need for a Savior is the most profound aspect of our lives?
Why is it so difficult for Christians to simply tell the truth? The stories of pastors resorting to murder are plenteous. When I searched the internet with, “list of pastor suicides”…story after story appeared, on page after page.
What is the price of ambition in the ministry of the Gospel? It is exorbitant! Men like these should have walked away long ago. Ambition, leading to success, is a recipe for pride. When chinks in the armor appear, there is extra work to keep up the façade. Then, pride kills.
Satan drives ambitious men to self-destruction. He laughs at their demise. They gained the whole world, but the soul of those greedy from growth have worshiped at the altar of idolatry.
Andrew was thirty years old. Forgive me, as I know Paul’s encouragement to young Timothy, but does not prudence warrant sitting under someone who has had more time in God’s Word? There are exceptions. Robert Murray McCheyne is one, but in his untimely death at age 29, his reputation was for exceptional holiness. Pastor Andrew was known for his struggle with mental illness and depression.
I would never claim to have studied psychology. The place of a pastor is to steward the mysteries of the Gospel (Eph 6:29), fully given to the ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:4). My point in writing my protest to pastor/murderers is that the Word of God could have helped, immensely, in these two examples of pastoral failure.
A. W. Tozer once wrote, “Show me the condition of your Bible, and I will show you the condition of your soul.” Too many pastors, today, are ministering without the only weapon issued by our King and Commander. They are killing themselves, as a result. These acts of sin must be identified for what they are in truth. Sin keeps us from the Bible, and the Bible keeps us from sin.
Pastor, pick up your Sword and fight, or you, too, will die in battle…quite possibly, a death at your own hands.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
November 14, 2021
