It is because they are human and thus sinful,as we all are. And their fame and notoriety make it all the more tempting to sin. But I think the biggest problem they have is that Satan (the devil),puts so much pressure (temptation) on them to cause them to fail, for obvious reasons. That is why every church constantly holds their pastors in prayer to help protect them.
But when a pastor's own church falls short of obeying Christ's teachings, then they all become weak, including their pastor. And sadly, that is exactly what is happening to Calvary Chapel.
The Calvary Chapel Movement (of which the church we are talking about is a part of) began by Chuck Smith (around the 50's I think)was very successful for a long while in Anglicization and bringing people to the Lord. Thus they grew and grew and all became mega-churches. But then the deceptive teachings of "contemplative spirituality", and the "emerging church" have recently crept in.
Contemplative spirituality is a belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence) and is rooted in mysticism and the occult but often wrapped in Christian terminology; the premise of contemplative spirituality is pantheistic (God is all).
The emerging church is harder to explain and point out the dangers, but basically .... though it claims to be Christian, seeks to use culturally sensitive approaches to reach the postmodern, un-churched population with the Christian message. Some Emerging Churches might use props such as candles, statues, and incense along with poems, open mics, and videos, etc. EC services are sometimes extremely informal, while others are more formal. They seek to make the congregation feel "good" rather than teaching them the somewhat difficult to accept doctrine that sin is sin, and Jesus explicitly laid out what is sinful. So the congregation leaves the service with a false sense of "I am a Christian, so all is well" feeling, rather than a conviction that "I go out of here today knowing that I will be tempted to sin, so I must be always watchful, confessing these sins and asking for Christ's cleansing Grace.
So, can you see how with the "feel good" doctrine approach, how a pastor could rationalize his own sin, even as Bob Coy did?
“I go out of here today knowing that I will be tempted to sin, so I must be always watchful, confessing these sins and asking for Christ’s cleansing Grace.”
That was Billy Graham’s attitude. And his son Franklin Graham, seems to be following in his father’s footsteps in taking money to where it is needed. I don’t believe evangelists have to live a life of poverty, just that they don’t rip off their churches bigtime. Or go after the women to go along with the lifestyle. It’s the attitude of too many of today’s televangelists. So many have fallen.
Too much money rolling around in these megachurches; too many financial temptations, too much adulation from large audiences of parishioners, too much leading the good life. Reminds me of that Archbishop down in Atlanta that recently built in his archdiocese an over million dollar mansion that he would of course live in, rather than put his parishioners’ money to better use.
Very well put Dowdy…..
You are misinformed. Calvary Chapel continues to battle against contemplative spirituality and the emerging church. I listen to several programs by CC including Pastor's Perspective which is a call in answer program. Pastor Chuck was on there answering questions until 2 days before he died, and I have NEVER heard anyone from CC give a pass to comtemplative prayer or the emerging church. They always call it for what it is; new age spirituality. Of course there could be pastors of smaller churches which do, but that is the exception.
Bob Coy did not fall victim to Contemplative Spirituality or emerging church doctrine. Calvary Chapel has been at the forefront in the fight against this doctrinal aberration. Chuck Smith Sr. excommunicated his own son for falling into that doctrinal error. If the Church uses the name “Calvary Chapel of.....” then they don’t teach contemplative spirituality.
Bob Coy did, however, fall victim to the temptation of the flesh. He has resigned and I believe he recognizes that his pastoral ministry is at an end. Doctrinal purity does not guarantee that a preacher will not fall victim to the temptations of the flesh. This has happened to pastors and priests of all denominations and sects. Calvary Chapel is not better or worse than any other. It only makes the news when the church is bigger than most small towns.