Time to Move On


During my childhood, I was frequently bullied by classmates. By the time I became a Christian at the age of 27, I had largely forgotten those painful experiences, but I still needed inner healing. Over the next few years, the Holy Spirit worked on my soul as I verbally forgave those who had hurt me.

It can be deeply hurtful when we encounter wrongdoing from fellow Christians, particularly preachers. Recently, a renowned pastor named Robert Morris was released from jail after serving six months for old child sex abuse charges. Morris had engaged in multiple sexual encounters with an underage girl in Oklahoma during the 1980s while he was a young traveling evangelist. After Cindy Clemishire told her parents about it, Morris left the ministry for two years and received counseling. He later founded Gateway Church in the Dallas area.


I wasn’t familiar with Robert Morris before his past sins made national headlines (I’ve since listened to a sermon of his on evangelism that was really good). What immediately disturbed me was that legal action was sought almost 40 years after Morris had repented and sought forgiveness from the girls’ parents. Clemishire stated that her family forgave Morris but never gave him a blessing to return to ministry, which Morris claims he received. Cindy’s father had demanded that Morris leave the ministry or he would call the sheriff.


Whether the Clemishires approve of Morris’s return to ministry is beyond their control. Romans 11:29 states, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” God will utilize people who have made poor choices, provided they repent. Remember Jim Bakker? The founder of The PTL Club lost his ministry after an adulterous affair and spent time in prison for accounting fraud. However, God restored him. Bakker even returned to television, which he initially resisted. David is described in 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22 as “a man after God’s own heart”, despite having committed adultery and murder while King of Israel.


Certainly, I don’t condone Robert Morris’s past actions. However, I must question Cindy Clemishire’s motive for continuing to “pursue justice.” Morris is now serving a 9½ year probation sentence and a lifetime registration as a sex offender. He has also paid $250,000 in restitution, but Clemishire is seeking additional compensation. She and her father have sued Morris, his wife Debbie, and Gateway Church for over $1 million in damages. Since Clemishire professes to be “a woman of faith”, it would be helpful for her to read the first few verses in 1 Corinthians 6:


1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 

2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 

3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 

4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 

5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 

6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 

8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!


Among the materials that aided me during my journey of inner healing were the teachings of Joyce Meyer. Joyce endured sexual abuse at the hands of her father during her childhood. Although she openly discussed this at her meetings, Joyce refrained from disclosing her father’s name or pursuing criminal charges against him. Years later, Joyce’s father experienced a spiritual transformation and sought forgiveness. In a remarkable gesture, Joyce and her husband, David, baptized him.


There’s an old saying, “Time heals all wounds.” I don’t entirely agree with that. One must learn to let go of past offenses. I pray Cindy looks to the Lord for inner healing. No amount of money will heal the church hurt still festering in her soul. Negative consequences result when people seek vengeance against God’s ministers. 


I’m also praying Robert Morris will find a way back into ministry despite critics insisting he disqualified himself. Romans 14:4 says, “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” All of us can recall foolish things we did in the past, especially before coming to Christ. I’m thankful that He is more forgiving than man.


“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” 

- Psalm 103:12

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