Can We Restore Pastors After Sexual Sin: A Short Answer

Article
10.30.2018

Editor’s note: For a longer answer to this difficult question, check out Jared Wilson’s article here.

* * * * *

I’m afraid if I answer this the way that I should, it will give so much license to restore pastors too quickly. But since I should, I should.

Ultimately, I think the answer is yes. A pastor who has sinned sexually can be a pastor again. And I say that just because of the grace of God and the fact that “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6–7) can be restored, probably.

But here’s the catch. Forgiveness comes quickly, expensively, and immediately, at the point of repentance. But trust isn’t restored in just a moment. It cannot be.

If a pastor has betrayed his people, and it has wounded a church grievously and wounded his wife grievously, he can be forgiven just like that. Sin wiped away. The blood of Jesus covers it. But as far as reestablishing trust, which is essential to a shepherd-sheep and wife-husband relationship, how long does that take? A decade? It takes a long time—a long time—until memories are healed.

Very practically, I think this is what I would say: A man who commits adultery, say, in the ministry, should immediately resign and look for other work. And he should make no claim on the church at all. He should get another kind of job and go about his life humbly receiving the discipline and the regular ministries of the church, whether in his former church or in another church.

There are so many who fall who insert themselves quickly in another kind of ministry. And that’s just, I think, clear evidence that they don’t fathom what has happened.

*****

Editor’s note: An audio version of this article is currently online at Desiring God’s website here. 

By:
John Piper

John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org, and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis. You can find him on Twitter at @JohnPiper.

9Marks articles are made possible by readers like you. Donate Today.