Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship has declined to elaborate on the gorgeous resolution of its influential chief, Pastor Tony Evans, to briefly step down from his pastoral duties “due to sin” as followers of his large public ministry provided prayers whereas questioning in regards to the nature of the unnamed sin he confessed.
“There will be no one to speak to about that statement. It’s true; he announced it at both services [on Sunday], and that’s it,” a consultant of the church advised The Christian Put up Tuesday.
“The person who’s taking over for him is stated in that little paragraph, and that’s about it. There will be nothing anyone else will be able to tell you. It’s over.”
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Evans, 74, confessed in a written assertion Sunday that although he didn’t commit any crimes, he fell in need of the biblical requirements espoused by his ministry “a number of years ago,” suggesting it was “due to sin.”
“The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God,” Evans acknowledged.
“A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me,” he added. “While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders.”
Whereas many individuals provided prayers for Evans, others like Roy E. Ciampa, Armstrong Chair of Faith and Chair of the Division of Biblical and Spiritual Research at Samford College in Alabama, are upset together with his assertion and consider the choice to admit could have been compelled.
“This is very disappointing. If this took place years ago. Is he (temporarily) stepping back now, bc he was just recently exposed? In any case, he covered it up for years & he’s supposed to be ready for healing & restoration? Consider me skeptical,” Ciampa wrote on X.
Michelle Lesley, a Christian blogger and co-host of “A Word Fitly Spoken Podcast,” accused Oak Cliff Bible Church’s assertion of finessing sin.
“When they euphemize in every way possible without naming the sin, it’s usually some form of sexual immorality. If you’re truly repentant over your sin, you’ll confess it, not finesse it,” she wrote on X. “I hate that this happened, but he was already not someone to follow.”
Evans, who has authored over 100 books, booklets and Bible research, has been the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for over 40 years.
He “is one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles,” in line with his bio on the church’s web site.
His radio broadcast “The Alternative” is aired in some 130 international locations through greater than 1,400 radio retailers. He’s the primary African American to put in writing and publish a full-Bible commentary and examine Bible. He’s additionally the primary black American to earn a doctorate in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Evans, who as soon as served as chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys, was additionally listed as a member of the Dallas Theological Seminary Board.
Seminary officers didn’t instantly verify if Evans continues to be a board member when contacted by CP Tuesday.
Church planter and lead pastor of Hope Church in Georgia, JC Groves, mentioned the information broke his coronary heart and issued a message for church leaders.
“You. No matter who you are. No matter how long you’ve been in ministry. No matter how big or small the ministry is You are one decision away from stupid,” Groves tweeted. “One decision away from ruining it all. Don’t be a statistic. Tony Evans news absolutely breaks my heart.”
Whereas admitting that he as soon as “fed” on sermons by Evans and would not consider him to be a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Christian podcaster Nick Jones raised concern about Evans persevering with in ministry for a number of years realizing that he was “unfit due to sin.”
“To some people it doesn’t matter. Some people are saying you know what, this whole time he was preaching knowing that he was unfit due to the sin, due to the transgression that he committed. So why was he on stage? That’s some people’s perspective,” he mentioned in a Monday video.
“I don’t want to just gossip for no reason, but I am curious if he was trying to get it ahead of something leaking …, so he made a statement first because potentially something was going to come out. I don’t know. … But it is interesting that that [so] much time went by, and now he’s finally saying that he needs to step away,” Jones argued.
Whereas Evans could also be stepping down briefly, he’ll stay lively in his Christian Bible educating and useful resource ministry, The City Various. In partnership with Christian journey administration firm Inspiration Journey, Evans and The City Various will host a Mexican Riviera Cruise deliberate for Nov. 9-16, with tickets beginning at $1,198 per traveler.
An agent with Inspiration Journey advised CP Tuesday that the cruise continues to be on as a result of The City Various is a separate entity from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. The agent famous that The City Various additionally has a contractual obligation to proceed with the cruise.
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“Well bless their hearts.”
