What possessed Joe Schmoe to promote this man? Joe acknowledges that Jefferson ran his church like a CEO presiding over a corporation. He praises Jefferson’s doctrine while saying that his interpretation of Song of Songs was completely wrong. He acknowledges that Jefferson had become a wealthy man. Over the years Schmoe has had appropriately strong words for pastors who live and lead in those ways. Nevertheless he invited Jefferson to speak a number of times at his national conference. Many people trusted Jefferson precisely because Schmoe trusted Jefferson. At the very least this was a failure of discernment. And when a world-famous pastor with great influence lacks discernment the consequences are high.
The controversies surrounding Jeff Jefferson were not suddenly discovered six months ago. For years there have been numerous voices sounding an alarm. And now, mere weeks after Jefferson’s resignation from Harvest Church the whole enterprise is collapsing. I am not blaming Jefferson’s sins on the well-known men who surrounded him. I do wonder, however, why they chose to promote him so vigorously when there was so much evidence of trouble. (names changed)
~ Todd Pruitt
It really doesn't matter who the actual pastors are of whom Pruitt writes. I'm sure this kind of thing happens with distressing frequency in the lofty realms of celebrity Christendom. Most instances don't come to such well-publicized ends, and malefactors recede quietly into the green rooms of megachurches and conference centers until ready for reintroduction to a new mega-stage.
Of course many if not most pastors and church leaders with extraordinarily large followings are people of pure heart and sterling character. Most are true blessings to the church. Nevertheless, the dangers are real. If one's followers number in the thousands, it becomes ever more important to be discerning about who and what one endorses.
Stories like these are also words to the wise: just because a man can preach down the heavens, just because his words were used by God to effect positive change in your life, just because his personal charisma is potent enough to make him a local and internet sensation, are not reasons enough to give him your unquestioning devotion.