• A decisive ethic of the Christian faith is the refusal to defend or protect the self, learning instead to think of your life as something to be spent rather than sheltered. This is Jesus “oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth” (Isa 53:7), refusing to stand on his rights and instead “taking the form of a servant” (Php 2:7). This is Paul “poured out like a drink offering” (2 Tim 4:6) in order that Christ would be proclaimed.
This is you, after you have done all that you were commanded, considering yourself an “unworthy servant” (Luke 17:10). You could call this humility, but it’s just the recognition that even the greatest man or woman plays only a bit-part in God’s economy, such is his eminence and glory. All our elaborate self-defenses are a gross misunderstanding of our place (thankfully!) in the cosmos.
• Beware of Christian leaders who have lost touch with this. One who has not lost touch is Khen Tombing, the missionary our team just visited in India. The remarkable range and reach of Khen’s lifetime work on the Myanmar border would make him a rockstar here in the west, amped on social media, his numbers and personal glory pumped by fanboys. As it is, his earthly fame is slightly above zero. It is a matter of complete indifference to him.
• I’ve thought also of Skip Ryan, the Harvard grad and PCA mega-church pastor who developed an addiction to prescription pain meds, then confessed and had to (wonderfully) relearn the Gospel from the ground up. Some very bad news just lately. Skip relapsed in spring. I want you to read his letter of apology and resignation from all public ministry. It’s all that you would hope from a leader in Christ who sees himself in right perspective, understands the need to guard the Church, loves the Bride of Christ, refuses to spin the story to his own advantage. As you read, think of how easy it would have been to shift blame to a naive doctor or the magnitude of his pain (we would have pitied him), to stress his love for his people and simply omit the clear breach of trust and ordination vows, to be vague about indulging his addiction or to have never said anything at all. It’s so honest, so plain, so detailed.
To the PCPC Church Family,
Most, though perhaps not all, of you know that prior to mid-2006, I struggled with addiction to opiate medicine (narcotics like Hydrocodone). After 7½ years of non-use, I “relapsed” about April 1 by abusing a medicine called Tramadol, which, while not as addictive as narcotics, “woke up the beast” as it is said, and led me back into the use of narcotics.
Instead of dealing with this relapse responsibly, I allowed it to continue and grow. Further, I obtained medicine inappropriately and wrongfully. In doing so, I betrayed the trust of the elders of our church who called me to the role of assistant pastor in 2011, and of you, the congregation of PCPC, whom I vowed to serve. This means that I have also broken my ordination vows and those I made when I was installed as one of your pastors.
It belongs to the presbytery to hear my confession and to act in whatever disciplinary way they deem best to protect the honor of the Church broadly. It belongs to the Session of PCPC to do so for our congregation. The elders have been full of love for Barbara and me, and they have been prompt and direct in executing their responsibilities as protectors of the flock and preservers of truth. I honor them in this difficult situation and ask that you do as well. I do resign as assistant pastor at PCPC and ask the Session to formally dissolve the pastoral relationship that exists between the church and me, and I have asked Redeemer Seminary to accept my resignation as chancellor and professor.
The remorse, regret, sadness, and burden of my failures are not mine alone. I have profoundly hurt my family and you, my church family, and I have betrayed your trust again. I am so deeply sorry that I have failed to be the Christian my teaching has suggested I am. Ironically, I love our church more than I did in previous years before 2006. You have been our family, showing how much of His grace you have experienced in your own lives. I will always be thankful for the love given to me through the people and the elders of PCPC.
Please pray for us. These are uncertain and difficult days.
Blessings,
Skip Ryan
– Pastor Eric