Note: It is with a heavy heart that I must acknowledge a tragic independent report concerning evidence of sexual abuse and predatory behavior on the part of Ravi Zacharias. This man was a huge inspiration to me, as is evident from reading my blog, and the news was more than heart shattering. Some ministries leaders have come to the conclusion that removing articles about and references to Ravi is the right move; I have come to a different conclusion, and here is why:
- Though I cannot begin go to imagine the grief or pain of those Ravi hurt and the emotional toll of his behavior, it is also the case that to discredit a piece of information due to the character of the source of such behavior is to commit the genetic fallacy. If I quote or mention Ravi, it is because I believe those items to contain truth value on their own merit.
- To go back and change previously written information without a careful disclaimer is, I believe, a form of revisionist history. If a disclaimer must be offered anyway, I believe there is value in keeping the material accessible. So while I know it is a difficult ask to say, “Just trust the ideas and disregard his personal character,” I must ask that of you as a careful thinker.
- I have seen a lot of comparisons by Christians to not removing Ravi’s work because biblical characters like King David and others had fallen into terrible sin, and they have obviously been given to us as a gift to learn from (Romans 15:4). Why “cancel” Ravi if we’re not “cancelling” the Bible? It does seem to me, though, that there are two problems with this line of thinking: (1) These books are inspired by God and thus we can trust his revelation to us. They were examples given for a purpose. (2) These characters also seemed to show true biblical repentance of their wicked actions. Ravi remained unrepentant until his dying day. Therefore, I do not think these are 1-and-1 comparisons. This behavior reflects SERIOUS error and dangerous behavior on the part of Ravi and, to an unknown degree, RZIM as a whole, and that must not be taken lightly or swept under the rug.
I do not expect you to agree completely with this decision. I do ask that you respect the thought, prayer, and seeking of counsel in which I engaged regarding it.
Recently, RZIM shared the news that Ravi Zacharias’ cancer situation had taken a turn for the worse. Ravi’s daughter, Sarah, shared the following:
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for my dad and for my family in recent months as he has undergone back surgery and treatment for cancer. Truly, words fail to convey the depths of our gratitude for your many expressions of love.
Ravi, Margie, and Naomi are returning from Houston and will remain at home in Atlanta, where our family can be together for whatever time the Lord gives us.
The organization has asked that those who’ve been impacted by Ravi’s life and ministry share something with the hashtag #thankyouravi.
I am very appreciative of the work Ravi has done. The first apologetics book I ever picked up—the one that started my journey into this season of life—was Lee Strobel’s The Case for Faith. Lee interviewed Ravi as the expert to discuss the question of Jesus being the only way to God.
While Ravi Z. was unknown to me despite my being a Christian for over two decades at that point, it turns out he had been a force to reckon with for the Christian world. I think he was the first interviewee in Lee’s book I was so intrigued by that I had to Google him and find out more.
And the rest, as they say—is history.
It was not very long before I was subscribed to every podcast RZIM put out. Ravi is without a doubt one of the wisest, most well-spoken individuals I’ve ever listened to. I have spent hours with his content in written, video, and audio form, and to say I have learned a tremendous amount would be an egregious understatement.
For a humorous anecdote, the one gripe I have with Ravi’s books is they take twice as long to read because I have to use my computer’s dictionary at least once per page to get the definition of a new word I’ve never heard before, LOL.
I still remember Ravi’s words just a few short years ago at Nabeel Quereshi’s memorial service. I am sure Ravi did not anticipate his journey would be coming to an end so soon, but none of us are promised tomorrow. This recent news is just a sobering reminder that no matter how long you spend in service of the Lord, no matter how much good you do in the world, no matter how invincible you seem—when he calls for us to come home, home we go.
I am sure Ravi will miss those whom he deeply loves, but I can assure you he is ready and excited to meet his Savior. The Lord is good.
If I were forced to choose the single most important thing I learned from him, it would be this: Answer the questioner, not merely the question. It’s one thing to have a calculated philosophical answer to objections; it’s quite another to be winsome and compassionate. This is not only wise advice, but can be witnessed first hand in practice in the countless Q&A sessions RZIM has made available online.
Here’s a hymn Ravi loved and often quoted during lectures and Q&A sessions:
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labours increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision, Our God ever yearns His resources to share; Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing; The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
