Four Faithful Servants Departed, Who Will Step Up?

In recent months, we have lost four outstanding Christian leaders. In July, Pastor John Macarthur from Southern California died after more than 50 years of preaching the gospel. Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson died in August, leaving a great legacy of equipping parents and supporting families. Then, on September 10 we lost 31- year-old Charlie Kirk to an assassin’s bullet. Charlie was a powerful proponent of Christian values to college students and young adults. Later in September, Voddie Baucham, an outstanding preacher I heard numerous times, died suddenly at the age of 56. Each of them left an incredible legacy of boldly standing for Biblical truth.

Macarthur kept me company as I listened to his sermons on radio through the Grace to You program on many a car ride. His Bible knowledge was extraordinary, as he led a church, a college, and seminary in Southern California. Never one to back down from controversy, he stood strongly on God’s Word and was always clear to point to the authority of Scripture, not anyone’s opinion. How I wish other preachers would stop bowing to the culture when the Lord has given His final Word to His people.

I remember Larry King interviewing Dr. Dobson on his CNN program. King was wanting to lump all Christian leaders together with fallen celebrity pastors like Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart. How Dobson answered that line of questioning has stuck with me for years. He said that he prayed daily that he would not fall and dishonor the Lord and undo what he had spent his whole life doing. We need more prayer and humility like Dr. Dobson’s! I also admire how forcefully he warned about the poison of pornography. Unfortunately, it seems that his message has been forgotten, as I hear of studies that reveal that many men cannot sustain a healthy sex life due to pornography addictions. That is just one horrible outcome of this dehumanizing plague upon our world today.

Charlie Kirk mobilized millions, not only in the U.S., but around the world. He challenged the secular orthodoxy and lies that have deceived so many in our younger generation. His work is generally associated with politics, but his pastor Rob McCoy helped make the connection to Charlie’s faith when he said, “Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus. He knew if he could get all of you rowing in the streams of liberty, you would come to its source, and that’s the Lord.” The world surely misses this young man who dared to have conversations about hot-button topics on campuses. I will confess to being furious when I see people claim that Charlie Kirk spread hate. When will people realize that disagreeing with someone does not equal hate? I think they were just mad he was so brilliant at defending standard Christian viewpoints and refuting the foolish new ideas that have become commonplace.

Voddie Baucham brought fire in preaching God’s Word. How much better off would we be if all brought such courage and passion into the pulpit! When Voddie came here to speak at an event, my wife Kate was able to spend significant time with him. He made a great effort to listen to and encourage her in their conversation. He understood that a pastor’s wife has one of the most difficult roles imaginable, and for that interaction and for his ministry overall, I look forward to thanking Voddie in heaven. The discouraging part about these losses is that the void left behind is massive. I pray the Lord will raise up strong leaders to boldly stand for God’s truth and for His help to do my part.

In Christ, Robert