What can we learn from this?

Most readers will be aware of a story that appeared in national newspapers recently regarding the former minister of Eden Chapel, Cambridge, a church well known to many subscribers. Far from believing everything we read in newspapers, we understand that the statements made are substantially accurate. From time to time ministers of the gospel do fall into open sin. It is not normally our policy to comment on such sad cases. However, in light of the fact that Mr Clements' leaving his wife is now so widely known, we felt it might be thought that Grace was somehow pretending the situation did not exist if we said nothing.

Our reaction is certainly to hide our heads from the world in shame. We do not say, as some may be tempted to say, "These things happen. It can't be helped'. No, it deeply grieves us that one who apparently held to the doctrines we love and delight in should fall in this sad and humiliating way. We extend our deepest sympathy to the family, the church and all who have been affected, directly or indirectly, by this tragedy. We earnestly pray for a swift and thoroughgoing repentance, painful as that may be and as incredibly difficult as restoration is.

Faced by such sad events, it is our duty before God to reflect soberly on what we may learn from this fall. One thought is, perhaps, that we place some on too high a pedestal so that if they do fall the consequences are so much the greater for the gospel. But no doubt it is inevitable that, for various reasons, some will have a higher profile than others. Another thought is that there seems to be a connection between pressure and falls of this kind but knowing so little about the case, one is unable to draw firm conclusions. With the five points below we feel on surer ground.

1. It is a reminder of our union in Christ

Our apparent lack of unity is something that often troubles believers. However, when something like this happens we are reminded of our essential union in Christ. In the past some of us have sought to distance ourselves from certain things Roy Clements has said - not because we believed he was not a believer but because we believed he was in error. Now, having stepped outside the pale in a way that no woe Christian can condone, the reaction of us all is one of horror, disbelief and pain. A twiner has fallen and if one part of the body suffers every other part suffers too. We niece for him, his family, his church, regardless of differences on other issues in the past

2. It is a reminder to take heed that we do not fall too

Perhaps this is the most obvious lesson. By nature we are all like tinder and the smallest spark could easily start a great conflagration that no man could put out. It is only God's grace that keeps us standing. With the 18th century Cambridge Strict Baptist Robert Robinson we say

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be.

Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to thee

We remind ourselves too that, even though he permed those words, Robinson himself fell into gross doctrinal error and is said to have longed in vain for the faith to return again to the 'Fount of every blessing'. Mere words are not enough to save any of us.

3. Let us not pretend that we are without similar sins

Sadly, this is far from being the first case of an evangelical minister breaking his marriage vows. Further, besides those who publicly fall, who is there who has not at some point, in deed, word or thought, also been guilty of unfaithfulness to such a solemn vow? It is sheer hypocrisy to pretend that we are the innocent ones and it is only one man who has let us all down. No, the tragedy of these particular events is the public nature of the sin and the apparent lack of repentance. God is very gracious and covers over our sins - often he chooses even to keep them from being publicly known. How very merciful he is. How many more of us would be disgraced, if he were not? Repentance too is his gift. Without it none of us could take even one step forward. Without it we are little different from other sinners.

4. Recognise the over-arching grace of God

One difficulty some believers have in situations like this is how a man can preach with such apparent power and yet be guilty of such gross sin. Should we bum the books and articles and tapes of one who has fallen? As with all men, we must exercise discernment, of course, and in this case we will find ourselves reassessing certain statements in a new light. However, we remind ourselves that no merely human author is infallible. It is only God's grace that enables any preacher to say what is good and true. In his grace, God does not wait for perfection before using a man. In an almost unbelievable way the highest and lowest thoughts find a home in the same mind all within a very short space of time. We say this to our shame but also to magnify the grace of God. Of course, we will be slow to recommend such books while there is no repentance but it does no good to pretend that there is nothing of merit in the writings of men who have fallen.

5. Believe in the restoration of sinners

It is very easy to write people off and assume that once a man falls he can be of no use to God. Who would have said God would use Samson again, after his hair was shorn, or Peter after his fall from grace? Yet God did. Restoration is usually a long, slow, painful process but in Christ's goodness it does happen. Let's pray for it for all who fall.

This article appeared in Grace Magazine in November 1999