In this post, let us take a look at the vital lessons we can learn from megachurch pastors who have failed in their role and how we must respond as Christians.

You probably heard the news. Another megachurch pastor has been fired due to moral failures. Sadly, this is not the first time this happened and it will not be the last. In fact, you may even read this after weeks, months, or years from now, and still, you’ll find this article relevant.

According to Wikipedia, a megachurch is defined as a church organization with a large membership, having an average of more than 2,000 weekly attendance. 

So, when the pastors of these megachurches fail, it immediately grabs headlines. It stimulates people’s curiosity and wants to know the reason why they fail and be taken out of their position.

However, for us Christians, we must not waste this opportunity to learn vital lessons. Thus, in this blog, let me share with you the five things we must learn when megachurch pastors fail.

Lesson no. 1: Pastors are still humans

Megachurch pastors are highly-respected people. They hold an office that supposedly represents God and His Son, Yahshua or Jesus Christ. They are held in such high esteem that people tend to forget that they are still humans.

That’s right. They are still humans. 

They are still endowed with human nature and fleshly desires. They are still sinners struggling to become pleasing God and following His commandment.

As you may have read in the past, the common reasons megachurch pastors and even leaders of small groups fail is because of an affair, fraud, and other moral issues. 

They are not taken out due to technical or formality problems. They are taken out because they broke God’s commandments.

They sin. We sin. We are all in the same boat. The main difference is that they are held more accountable. As Yahshua said:

“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48).

Lesson no. 2: Pastors are high-value targets

It doesn’t mean that if they are pastors and leaders of a huge church, they are immune to Satan’s evil devices. In fact, they are in the crosshairs of Satan and his evil minions.

Satan is well-versed with the statement found in Zechariah 13:7:

“Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

He perfectly knows that if he can get into the leaders, it would be easier to destroy the whole congregation.

That’s exactly what He did with Yahshua (Jesus) when He was still a human being. He tried to destroy Yahshua even before He was born!

The same thing he is doing with pastors and leaders of the church. So, it should not come as a surprise if Satan targets megachurch pastors and they finally give in.

Lesson no. 3: Megachurch pastors promote false doctrine

To make Satan’s job easier, some of these megachurch pastors are not really there for God, but for themselves. There’s a reason they have a huge following. We read in II Timothy 4:3:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.”

Look at some of the megachurches today. Most of them, if not all, are preaching a watered-down gospel and teachings. They don’t talk so much about sin and repentance. They only talk about health, wealth, and prosperity!

They only talk about how God owes them a happy and prosperous life. As a result, they attract a lot of people who love to only hear what they want to hear instead of what they NEED to hear.

Now, you may hate me for this, but I’m the first one to tell you that modern Christianity today is far from what Christianity was in the first century. In fact, if the Apostles come out of their graves today, they would not recognize the “Christianity” we have now!

Now, this is a huge topic, so I highly recommend you read this controversial article: 10 Biggest Lies Your Pastor Probably Had Told You. It will give you an idea of what I’m talking about.

Lesson no. 4: Stop worshipping pastors

There’s a danger when we forget that pastors are still humans. We think that they are the highest standard of morality. We put them on a high pedestal and whether we admit it or not, some folks would go as far as worshiping them!

In our country, in the Philippines, we have a huge church organization. They have hundreds of thousands of members not just locally, but internationally.

Their leader calls himself the appointed “Son of God.” Yes, with a capital “S.” He claims to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Well, you think that’s preposterous and absurd, yet, he has a lot of followers and his followers worship Him like a god!

Maybe, not all would tell you outright to worship them, but a lot of megachurch pastors are like celebrities and they are admired for their accomplishments.

As a result, we forget that they, too, are humans and are NOT immune to temptation. They sin just like any of us.

That’s why when they fail, a huge number of people have their faith shaken and taken away from them. Some people depend so much on their pastors that when they fall, they fall together with them. They stumble in their faith and get discouraged.

Why? Because they started to worship and make an idol out of their pastors instead of looking into God.

This is where the final point comes in.

Lesson no. 5: We must look to God

Pastors are leaders with such great charisma. They are knowledgeable. They are even influential.

Because of these attributes, it is not difficult to see some people look to their pastors more than looking into God.

As a result, when their pastors fail, they also fail.

When their pastors break God’s commandments, they get discouraged and take the same path!

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way!

Pastors are humans and like any humans, they will surely disappoint you sooner or later.

That’s why don’t you ever put your faith in pastors, but in God instead!

God does not change. He does not disappoint. His words are sure. His love is unending and most importantly, His great pleasure is to give you the Kingdom!

So, stop worshiping pastors.

Remember, they are just tools in God’s hands.

They are not God themselves.

In the end, what really counts is not the relationship you have with your pastor. It is your relationship with God.

Don’t let the mistakes of others talk you out of your destiny. People fail, but God never fails.

Stay close to God no matter what. 

People come and go. Leaders rise and fall. Church organizations may fail and stop, but as long as you have a strong relationship with God, nothing should shake your faith.

Final words

These are some of the important lessons we can learn from megachurch pastors who fall and fail. Thankfully, all hope is not lost for them. Just like us, we also fail, but that doesn’t mean we are out of the Christian race.

These megachurch pastors still have hope to repent, renew their commitment to God, search for God’s truth. And hopefully, when they return, they will do the will of God and teach His true way of life.