On the subject of that famous (now infamous) preacher, Jack Schaap from Hammond, Indiana , I feel that I should weigh in.

If you are sitting there saying, “Who the heck is this guy to voice an opinion?” Has anyone heard of him? Does he belong to our group? You are in dire need to hear of my take on all of this.

I discovered some time ago, as did others, that Jack Schaap was off the mark on his teaching but that was a result of a deeper cause. What I saw in his face and heard in his voice was that he was a man who believed his own hype.

Just like a child star who rises too fast and succumbs to the sinful ways around them, Jack Schaap and many other Pastors are not immune to such sin. What do the Scriptures say:

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Jack Schaap’s downfall came long before the issue with the girl. It came when he thought he was higher than the world. When his judgments were better than others around him.

The Bible says:Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

This was the problem in a nutshell. The man started being a law unto himself. It was his way, not God’s that brought him down.

Let’s look at the good news. He is going to heaven as long as he is truly saved.

I remember being on deputation when I called a Hyles – Anderson Church. (the title is symbolic of a higher problem) A lady answered the phone and told me that they will only see missionaries who have saved 1000 people in the past year and baptized them also.

If Mr Schapp believed that man saves anyone, he has a much larger problem.

However if he is a believer, he might have lost some crowns but he will still be in the congregation of the saved. More good news is Jesus loves him so much and he should fall on his face and repent. Jesus loves true repentance. That doesn’t mean he will go back to being the world’s Pastor but it does mean he, and his family can have peace even through this.

I am most troubled because I believe that his problem of pride is represented by many, many Pastors today.

Those who would jump up and point at him should realize as they do so, the four remaining fingers point back at your self.

Do we feel bad? Do we wish it did not happen? Do we pray for him and his family? This is all goes without the need to say.

What we need to say is how  many others are in the midst of a huge pride problem which could result in many different sinful courses.

We know that this is not unique. One California Pastor stole $3 million from his congregation. One pastor is so big that if he sends out a missionary he just makes phone calls to other Pastors and they take them on and yet when he gets a request he ignores it. Many Pastors promised this missionary support and when the time came the checks did not and phone calls went unanswered. Many spread lies without substance about this missionary. I was at a meeting which I cheerfully donated to a Pastor to help him restore a Church. Another Pastor said “we have to help each other” not one of them would would let me in their Church to preach or present my work.

This is my personal testimony and most of it will soon be published in my book.

My final word is Preacher, look at yourself. Are you haughty? Do you go to your preachers meetings bragging about YOUR work?

Are you more interested in suits and ties then the hearts of man? Is your music program geared to praise the Lord or convince others of your greatness?

These and so many other questions should you ask yourself daily. There is nothing you did good that the Lord did not do. Nothing. My ministry is just to say, “Father, what should I do now?”

Brother Shaap, my prayers are with you and your family at these very difficult, but not impossible times.