Wake up, church! Addiction is a disease
Lessons not learned from the Ravi Zacharias scandal
“Addiction is a potentially fatal illness — but it is also eminently recoverable”.
– Dr Kevin McCauley
A Christian ministry, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), recently released a report that confirmed earlier reports of sexual misconduct by its namesake leader who passed away in 2020. The ministry, after initially denying and downplaying allegations, eventually hired an independent law form to investigate the claims. Their report confirmed the allegations, but also revealed much more. The full report is available on the RZIM website.
The board issued a statement of “corporate repentance”, apologizing for their earlier statements and pledging support for the victims. They also pledged to combat abuse and harassment. RZIM also stated that they had taken steps to reassess their structures, policies and finances.
Despite this revelation, some supporters are still casting doubt on the veracity of the findings. Someone went as far as saying they were just looking for a reason to change the name of the ministry! I personally believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt, but in this case, the evidence appears to be overwhelming. The law firm that completed the investigation had nothing to gain by concocting allegations, and the RZIM leadership (which includes his wife and children) certainly did not, either.
Lack of accountability and the fallout
Numerous articles have been written about the double life that RZ lived, and the atrocities he committed. Attention has been brought to other questionable actions he was accused of — like inflating his academic credentials. People have talked about the need for accountability, and rightly so. The fallout has included booksellers dropping books from their offerings, radio stations cancelling RZIM shows and withdrawal of RZIM affiliates from speaking events.
Overall, the reactions seem heavily focused on the perpetrator rather than his victims and the psychological and spiritual abuse they endured. Commentators have generally focused on their shock and dismay at how a man who was so highly regarded in Christian circles could have behaved in a manner that was so contrary to his message. The simple answer is this: he was human. And yes, we hold religious ministers to a higher standard, but on what basis?
“Touch not my anointed”
Religious leaders tend to be placed on such high pedestals by their followers, viewed and treated as if they are somehow superhuman. This explains the cover ups and denials that frequently follow accusations of abuse, which only serve to perpetuate the abuse. Even when people are bold enough to speak out, they are often shut down and discredited. Some quote Bible passages out of context, referencing statements like “Touch not my anointed”, as evidence that those in spiritual authority are somehow beyond reproach and even when we have evidence to the contrary, we are to remain silent.
It’s easy to see how someone with worldwide acclaim can function from a position where no one feels empowered to confront him. The church and church related ministries have unfortunately created a situation where leaders are idolized and treated as superhuman, with the unintentional consequence of creating an environment where various kinds of abuse can flourish.
Why did this happen?
With that backdrop, it is concerning that the commentaries on this case do not address the underlying cause. Does anyone really think that a man who spent the better part of his life building a Christian ministry and defending the teachings of the Bible would choose a lifestyle in which he had an impeccable persona in public while privately engaging in sexual predatory behavior?
The behaviors described were abhorrent, even for someone who is not religious, so the question we need to ask is “Why did this happen”?
I cannot formally diagnose someone who was never my patient, but from all indications, Ravi Zacharias very likely had a sexual addiction. That is the only thing that would explain all the aberrant behaviors and the extensive attempts at covering them up.
Hopefully, the victims will get the professional help and support they need. This need is obvious, but from all the reports and reactions I have read online, what seems to have been missed by is that the perpetrator himself, was desperately in need of help.
People who suffer from addictions engage in behaviors that cannot be explained logically. The lying, manipulation, stealing and cover ups are explained by the fact that their brains have literally been “hijacked”. They do not want to engage in those behaviors, but they have lost control.
In some ways, Ravi was a victim of his own success in a community which elevated him to a position where he was deemed beyond reproach and where it would have been almost impossible to admit that he had a problem of this nature.
Professional help is available
Addiction is a life -long disease, and like other diseases, it can be treated. But in order to treat an illness, the problem must first be acknowledged. Had Ravi received professional treatment for this condition, perhaps some of his victims would have been spared. His family and ministry might have been spared the consequences they are now facing.
“How did I get here? I loved my career, why would I put it at risk? What does this say about me? What does it say about my future?” These are honest questions that Dr. Kevin McCauley asked when he found himself in prison after developing an opioid addiction following a surgical procedure (1).
Mr. Zacharias may very well have been asking himself similar questions. If only he had asked for help and received the professional help he needed. And yes, heinous acts were committed, as often happens with people suffering from addictions, but the addiction itself is not the crime. It is a disease that often leads people to do the unthinkable, and unfortunately, religious leaders are not immune.
Health care professionals are not immune, either. The specialty of addiction medicine has long recognized this and there are recovery programs for physicians and other health professionals who struggle with addiction, and they are often able to successfully return to work after treatment. Group and individual therapy, along with spiritual care, are core components of treatment planning, which is individualized for each patient. Aftercare and monitoring programs are available to support recovery. Dr. McCauley reports that, even though his own addiction landed him in prison, he had witnessed others self report their addictions in the Navy, knowing that they would get medical care, after which they would be allowed to return to flying status with close monitoring (2). It is time for a paradigm shift in the Christian community. We need to acknowledge that spiritual leaders are only human, and can suffer from addictive disorders, just like they can have diabetes or hypertension. If the underlying issues are not addressed, the abuse will continue, and the consequences may be even more tragic than what has been witnessed so far.
References
1. https://beyondtheorypodcast.com/dr-kevin-mccauley-on-americas-criminalization-of-addiction/
