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Be very, very careful who you follow!
Although the details remain vague at this moment in time, it seems to be pretty much "a done deal" that Richard Taylor, the Founding Pastor of Victory Church, has now quit his justly criticized creation. It was announced to the congregation in Cwmbran last Sunday (10th. August) that he has been involved in a "moral indiscretion," though no public statement has been forthcoming to date.
I feel it is relevant to repeat here a comment I made in my last post:
I personally find it so bitterly ironic that in Richard Taylor's case, it would seem that his departure will have been precipitated by a "moral indiscretion" on his part, and not because of him being made to answer any of the very many and pertinent questions that have been asked here and elsewhere about him and his Victory operation. Victory's leadership has persistently refused to answer or act upon the wealth of legitimate concerns that have been flagged up since the so-called "Outpouring" exploded into the public consciousness. It would seem to have needed a sordid sexual scandal to have galvanized the leadership into action, presumably because this time they had no choice, and are worried about how their own "good" selves might be adversely affected by their chief's fall from the pedestal on which they had been at such pains to place him!
Make no mistake. Victory's leadership is culpable in this whole sad saga. They could have reined in Richard Taylor long ago, and properly held him to account for all his unrighteous behaviour, his deeply questionable alliances with and support for heretics, not to mention his outrageous television performances such as coaching children how to successfully steal from their local convenience store! But they never did, preferring instead to bask in the reflected "glory" of a "Christian Superstar!"
They have long boasted of their errant leader's supposed "Godly successes" but aren't at all forthcoming about his all-too-human failures. They've never answered questions, never been prepared to be accountable for how they've operated. They wholeheartedly participated in and propagated the sham "Welsh Outpouring," never once being prepared to exercise wisdom and discernment and turning a wilfully deaf ear to anyone who has attempted to do so. They have to share in Taylor's shame and humiliation, and hang their own heads in remorse for their own disgraceful conduct in this whole unholy Victory debacle.
Richard Taylor is a man characterized by arrogance and mockery of others. So should we who raised questions about his ministry now arrogantly look down from lofty heights of righteousness, and cheer his downfall? No, most definitely not! Am I perfect? Of course not! Are any of you reading this article perfect? Assuredly not! We are all sinners, saved by grace and grace alone. Should we now mock him, as he once derided and laughed at those who dared to ask questions of him? No, most definitely not! There will be plenty of non-Christian mockers who will take delight in the Faith being dragged through the mire, particularly if the national newspapers run the story as may well prove to be the case. We are not in any sense to be a party to mockery, but rather should grieve that it is our Faith itself which has been brought into disrepute through Taylor's actions.
This is not a time for fleshly responses, but a time for honest reflection and seeking the Lord, and prayer for Richard Taylor himself and his wife and family, as well as all those he has sadly (mis)led along the way. There are no winners in this; we can only rely on the Lord to work His own purposes out, and cling to His promise that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). It is a salutary lesson for everyone that our trust must be in our Lord's perfection, and not in inherently fallible men who are open to all manner of sin and straying from Truth. As it is written:
I feel it is relevant to repeat here a comment I made in my last post:
I personally find it so bitterly ironic that in Richard Taylor's case, it would seem that his departure will have been precipitated by a "moral indiscretion" on his part, and not because of him being made to answer any of the very many and pertinent questions that have been asked here and elsewhere about him and his Victory operation. Victory's leadership has persistently refused to answer or act upon the wealth of legitimate concerns that have been flagged up since the so-called "Outpouring" exploded into the public consciousness. It would seem to have needed a sordid sexual scandal to have galvanized the leadership into action, presumably because this time they had no choice, and are worried about how their own "good" selves might be adversely affected by their chief's fall from the pedestal on which they had been at such pains to place him!
Make no mistake. Victory's leadership is culpable in this whole sad saga. They could have reined in Richard Taylor long ago, and properly held him to account for all his unrighteous behaviour, his deeply questionable alliances with and support for heretics, not to mention his outrageous television performances such as coaching children how to successfully steal from their local convenience store! But they never did, preferring instead to bask in the reflected "glory" of a "Christian Superstar!"
Richard Taylor is a man characterized by arrogance and mockery of others. So should we who raised questions about his ministry now arrogantly look down from lofty heights of righteousness, and cheer his downfall? No, most definitely not! Am I perfect? Of course not! Are any of you reading this article perfect? Assuredly not! We are all sinners, saved by grace and grace alone. Should we now mock him, as he once derided and laughed at those who dared to ask questions of him? No, most definitely not! There will be plenty of non-Christian mockers who will take delight in the Faith being dragged through the mire, particularly if the national newspapers run the story as may well prove to be the case. We are not in any sense to be a party to mockery, but rather should grieve that it is our Faith itself which has been brought into disrepute through Taylor's actions.
This is not a time for fleshly responses, but a time for honest reflection and seeking the Lord, and prayer for Richard Taylor himself and his wife and family, as well as all those he has sadly (mis)led along the way. There are no winners in this; we can only rely on the Lord to work His own purposes out, and cling to His promise that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). It is a salutary lesson for everyone that our trust must be in our Lord's perfection, and not in inherently fallible men who are open to all manner of sin and straying from Truth. As it is written:
"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."
(Jeremiah 17:5)
There are three great temptations for all Christian leaders: power, money and sex. Taylor fell at all three hurdles, but there can be no joy at his falling. We can be glad and relieved that his removal from a major position of influence prevents further apostate posturing on his part and leading others into error and hurt, but there is no pleasure to be taken in a man's sins overtaking him. There is only grief and consternation that the Gospel message has been tarnished by what has transpired. We can all lament accordingly, and ask ourselves difficult questions, for the lesson of Richard Taylor is one that we can all profitably learn from! This is a Scripture for us all:(Jeremiah 17:5)
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting"
(Galatians 6:7-8)
