Yet an elder needs to be one who is without blame before others. He should be one whose heart is for his wife alone and not another woman.

-I Timothy 3:2, TPT

Tullian Tchividjian, disgraced and defrocked former senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, is complaining, again, about how Christians are too hard on cheaters.

He committed adultery, divorced, and married another woman, Stacie–reportedly, a woman he had cheated with on his ex-wife. Does this sound like a person who meets the biblical standard set in 1 Timothy 3:2 above for a Christian elder?

 

I do not think so.

The article is entitled, “Tullian Tchividjian: I Am Less Nervous Telling a Non-Christian Than a Christian About My Adultery,” and it is by Stoyan Zaimov in The Christian Post.

This latest article has TT whining via Twitter:

“I can tell you from personal experience that every time I tell my own story of adultery and divorce, I’m less nervous telling a non-Christian than I am a Christian — they tend to be less shocked by sin and more surprised by grace.”

Are we talking God’s grace or running from consequences of your sins?

I think it is more about the later. Christians think poorly of TT because TT did something really bad–he cheated on his wife and arguably engaged in ministerial sexual conduct by doing so. Repentance includes accepting this natural consequence of acting in a way that destroys your moral reputation and working to rebuild it with humility

Pro-tip: Whining about Christians thinking poorly of you for committing adultery while a pastor is not humble.

And, of course, a non-Christian will be less discerning about adultery by a pastor being unacceptable before God–hopefully–than Christians hearing his story.

Jesus tells us that His true followers are marked by obedience to His teachings (see John 14:23-24). Committing adultery and marrying a–reportedly–affair partner seems the opposite to me than living in obedience to Jesus’ teachings.

Tullian Tchividjian, pity-party does not end there, he goes on to criticize those who are critical of fallen Christian leaders–himself included, presumably–Tweeting:

“The people that Jesus called out publicly were not the rank and file sinners, but the religious people who, thinking they were better, seemed to find great joy in calling out publicly the sins of the rank and file sinners.”

Think about this.

Tullian Tchividjian is certainly  NOT “rank and file” in the Christian world.

If evangelicals had a royal family, his family–that of Reverend Billy Graham–would certainly be in the running for that title. Remember, TT is the grandson of Reverend Billy Graham.

In addition to this, TT was the senior pastor to an evangelical, flagship megachurch, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. And if that is not enough, do you really think The Christian Post would bother running an article citing Tweets from a “rank and file” fallen pastor?!

Back to his Tweet:

“The people that Jesus called out publicly were…the religious people who, thinking they were better, seemed to find great joy in calling out publicly the sins of the rank and file sinners.”

I assume TT does not include himself in that category of “religious people” here. Yet, he goes on to lecture people about his brand of “grace” and “unconditional love” that is devoid of repentance, holiness, and righteousness, in my opinion. The implications is that if you disagree with TT, then you are in the “religious people” category.

Who is finding great joy  in calling out publicly the “sins” of the rank and file “sinner” here?!

Besides, we are to watch out for wolves in the church (Matthew 7:15). Someone teaching a false doctrine of “grace” and “love” where forsaking adultery is unnecessary is promoting a dangerous doctrine unhealthy to God’s sheep.

I am thankful for God’s grace and mercy in my life. However, I understand that God requires a forsaking of sin and turning to Him in order to receive those great gifts (see Hebrews 10:26-27).

The “grace” and “unconditional love” that Tullian Tchividjian is peddling here is not the grace and mercy of Jesus as defined by the Bible.