I've said it many times on this blog. When you assign behavior to an imaginary being, concept or demon, you enable the behavior. It is like saying that the devil made me do it, which is just a way of trying to escape direct responsibility for your actions. When a pastor has an affair, he is not guided by the Spirt of Jezebel. He's guided by his penis and a lack of impulse control. He has no character.
Jennifer Leclaire seems intent of giving pastors an easy way out despite overwhelming evidence that these pastors are driven by base sexual and monitory desires. These people are simply not living up to the our expectations for their behavior. It's a common failing, and not driven by demon possession, or the influence of some nebulous spirit.
Jezebel is essentially a spirit of seduction that woos people into sexual immorality and idolatry. Jezebel comes to kill, steal and destory[sic[ by tempting you and then escorting you, willingly, into immorality and idolatry. Revelation 2:20 clearly reveals what the spirit of Jezebel is and its sinister motives. Jesus said, “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” We have a responsibility to resist the devil and he will flee. Jezebel is no exception but many continue falling because they don't see the big picture. Jezebel justifies the sins of immorality and idolary[sic] with a false doctrine of grace.
Source: Why Megachurch Pastor Keep falling into sexual Immorality by Jennifer Leclaire
My explanation is for this behavior is simple. People are not what they seem, even pastors. The true measure of any person is in what they do, and not in what they believe. A pastor who preaches morality and lives amorally, is a cancer who can never be trusted again.
I have another problem with the Spirit of Jezebel concept. It is a feminine label for sexual amoral behavior and represents a subtle shift towards blaming the woman instead of the man. To be clear, in a case of pastoral infidelity, there are often two people twho should be held accountable. The pastor fell, but so did his mistress. In the case of sexual abuse, it's all on the pastor.
At least Leclaire built an interesting list:
- David Loveless, formerly of Discovery Church in Orlando - resigned over sex scandal
- Isaac Hunter, formerly of Summit Church - resigned over sex scandal.
- Sam Hinn, formerly of Gathering Place Worship Center in Sandord, resigned over sex scandal.
I could add a few more.
