[aron]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Ravi Zacharias was an itinerant Christian preacher/philosopher/apologist. He was not a church leader of any kind. Neither Zacharias nor RZIM ministries was officially accredited, affiliated, sponsored or sanctioned by any particular Christian denomination, organization or ministry.

"Zacharias was ordained by The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada in 1972 and retained his Alliance credentials (most recently with the U.S. Alliance), throughout his decades of ministry. He leaves behind Margie, his wife of 48 years, and three adult children."

https://www.cmalliance.org/news/2020...ias-1946-2020/

Originally Posted by UntoHim

There was no official (and apparently no unofficial) oversite, checks and balances or safe-guards put in place by Ravi or other ministry leaders. (sound familiar?)

There was $25 million revenue per year, noted to the Charity Navigator site. There was a board of directors, various charitable spin-offs... it all seemed legit. But everything centered round and depended on one "Great Man", who did as he pleased, and answered only to God. (sound familiar?)

Originally Posted by Nell

We identify with "greatness" because of pride....

This deception began in the garden and has not lessened to this day.

Very astute. I bought into this pseudo-greatness, because I didn't appreciate the greatness of Jesus Christ, nor my access through faith. So I was seeking "something more" and in my pride I was deceived.

The fact that "greatness" is sold can be seen in the statement of Mike Pence: "The greatest Christian apologist of this century." MP and others identified with RZ seeming to be great, and associated themselves with that. And I remember (BP?) in the LSM saying, "Nobody who ever left the Recovery became a great spiritual person." This shows they held WL as a "great spiritual person." But any who think thus, prior to the Judgment Seat of Christ, are deceived - only God makes such judgments. Your "greatness", or your "lack", will by tried and found out, but not by a PR firm or publicist, or the President of a publishing house.

Originally Posted by Unreg

Thanks, everyone, for the grace and the wise words. ....here are some current "takeaways" for myself:

All good points Unreg, I'd add to stay away from spiritual groups, organizations, churches, or ministries that excessively promote anyone the way RZIM and LSM did to their respective founders.