When Repentance Becomes Costly

Not All Sins Are Equal

Scripture teaches that all sins are offensive to the Lord, but not all sins are equal. Jesus highlighted this as he stood before Pilate: “He who delivered me over to you has the greater sin” (John 19:11). There, Jesus explained the sin of the Jewish leaders was greater than Pilate’s because they were the masterminds behind the plot to kill him (John 11:45-53). With this understanding, the greater the sin, the greater the consequence for that sin. The one who expresses unrighteous anger to his neighbor is not committing nearly as serious a sin as the one who murders his neighbor. All sins have consequences, but the consequence of murder biblically (Genesis 9:6) is far greater than a fit of anger. The degree of punishment is based on the seriousness of the sin (Leviticus 24:19-20). 

The Consequences for David’s Sin 

We know well the story of David and Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel 11, we learn that King David was supposed to be out at war with his men, but instead put himself in a position of temptation. He saw the beauty of Bathsheba and sent his servants to bring her to him, and she willingly came to him. They had physical intimacy together, and Bathsheba became pregnant. Her husband was Uriah, the Hittite, and King David made it clear that he wanted Uriah out of the picture. He told his commander, Joab, to place Uriah where the fighting was the greatest, leading to a high probability that he would die. This is precisely what happened: Uriah the Hittite died. With Bathsheba’s husband out of the picture, David took her as his wife. The end of the chapter tells us that, “The thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). David did not confess on his own, but confessed when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan. He said in response, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13). Nathan then started with the good news, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Samuel 12:13). But then Nathan delivered him the bad, “Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die” (2 Samuel 12:14). 

Earlier, Nathan also explained to him more consequences, “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun” (2 Samuel 12:10-12). Even though David was forgiven by the Lord for his repentance, there would be serious consequences that he would face for his egregious sins. The result of his sins would be war against him in his own house and the loss of a child. After David sinned, the best thing he could do was repent. Repentance meant forgiveness, a repaired relationship with the Lord, and future effectiveness, but his sin being brought into the light also meant serious consequences. 

The pain of these consequences would carry with him the rest of his life. 

The Fear of Consequences in Pastoral Ministry

There may be people reading this right now who have committed an egregious sin or multiple egregious sins. Many around them are unaware of their participation in darkness because, to this point, they are blind to their wicked actions. Their fear of confessing before the Lord and others is the consequences that will come upon them for committing these sins. 

I was having a conversation with someone recently where I stated, “Some of the worst Christians out there are pastors.” They are those who went to seminary. They know Hebrew and Greek, the ins and outs of theology, and they have a good understanding of church history. They know many things about Scripture and theology that the average person in the pew does not. But when it comes to the basics of living out the Christian life (James 1:22), the ordinary Christian who simply desires to follow the Lord laps them. 

In pastoral ministry, there is a crisis: pastors have engaged in egregious sins. I am not talking about the taboo sins out there like murder, adultery, or theft, but rather, pastoral corruption, which has become acceptable in this American pastoral climate. They have pushed Woke agendas, kept their churches closed for long periods during Covid-19, ignoring the obvious tyranny happening before their eyes and disobeying the Lord (Hebrews 10:24-25). They have led seeker-sensitive churches that are skin deep, compromising on God’s Word to not offend the unbeliever. They have been involved in high-end financial indiscretions. More recently, other pastors have engaged in heinous levels of Jewish hate and have drawn in a large crowd waiting to cheer them on for their ungodly rhetoric. They have been double-faced, portraying a godly image while participating in works of darkness. 

These pastors have, in various ways, repeatedly lied to their people. In their unrepentance, to protect themselves, they have ignored or even slandered those who have exposed them and called them to repentance. Following Satan and the world, remaining hard-hearted, and refusing to listen to correction (Proverbs 12:1), has disqualified these men from being a shepherd of the Lord Jesus Christ. They no longer meet the qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. All shepherds sin, but not all shepherds commit egregious sins and then remain unrepentant. It is the latter that has no business being an overseer of God’s church. 

As these actions have been exposed, these disqualified shepherds suppress the truth, silence their consciences, and are unwilling to face the consequences for their sins. They would rather keep the façade of faithfulness than have a relationship repaired with the Lord and an opportunity to be truly effective for him going forward. During Jesus’ ministry there were Jewish authorities that professed faith in him, but they refused to say this publicly for fear that they would be kicked out the synagogue (John 12:42). John wrote piercing words concerning the character of these men, “They loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God” (John 12:43). As a pastor I see this same dynamic taking place in abundance within American evangelicalism. 

Pastors who participated in works of darkness would rather keep their status, comfort, and lucrative paycheck than come clean before the Lord about past, egregious sins. But the Lord is not fooled. He is the Judge that will bring every wicked activity in the light as, “No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). How much better for shepherds to come clean before the Lord now rather than ride the wave of pastoral corruption all the way to the final judgment where they will be judged more strictly than laymen (James 3:1). To be applauded on earth with continued book deals, conference invites, podcast clicks, pats on the back, and credibility within institutional Christianity (which is deeply corrupted) is incredibly hollow and short lasting, while the Judge of all the universe awaits (Genesis 18:25), knowing who they really are. 

A Plea to Pastors 

My prayer is true repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-11) for shepherds who have engaged in pastoral corruption and therefore disqualified themselves. King David truly repented for his egregious sins. As he did, he experienced the painful consequences of his evil actions, but after his repentance, he once again became a man approved by God and effective for the Lord’s sake, as he was once again a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). 

True repentance is costly, but how much better to experience shame now rather than before the Judge of all the universe at this life’s end.