Truth Talk Tuesday: When Fruit Is Rotten — Stop Excusing Bad Leaders

Just because a ministry is big doesn’t mean it’s blessed — sometimes it’s just well-marketed.

Let’s talk about fruit.
Not the grocery aisle kind. Not the Pinterest devotional kind either.
I’m talking spiritual fruit — the kind Jesus literally told us to use when deciding whether someone’s actually serving God or just serving themselves with a Jesus-flavored label slapped on top.

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth nobody wants to say out loud:
Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” is legit.
And some of the biggest names in Christian media?
Their fruit is plastic. It photographs well, but it’s hollow, flavorless, and spiritually toxic if you bite into it.

But because they’re popular, we give them a pass.
Because they’ve got stadiums, platforms, merch, and maybe even a tearjerking testimony, we’re quick to say, “Well, God must be using them!”

Let’s pause.
Size doesn’t equal soundness.
And influence doesn’t equal integrity.
Sometimes a massive ministry isn’t proof of God’s blessing — it’s just a really slick marketing team covering up a diseased root system.

Jesus didn’t say, “You’ll know them by their branding.”
He said, “You’ll know them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:16)

So let’s open our eyes, put away the celebrity excuses, and inspect the trees.

Size Doesn’t Equal Soundness

We’ve been conditioned to equate bigger with blessed.
If the sanctuary is packed, the stage is lit, and the sermon went viral before the second service… well, they must be doing something right. Right?

Not necessarily.
Sometimes what looks like spiritual success is just well-funded dysfunction with good lighting.

Let’s be real:
Hell has a wide gate. So does a sold-out conference.
Crowds can gather around truth — or around spectacle.
False teachers don’t show up with pitchforks and name tags that say “Hi, I’m here to exploit you.”
They come with charm, charisma, and a platform.
Jesus warned us Himself: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

They look safe.
They sound spiritual.
But when you get close enough? You smell the rot. You see the fruit isn’t feeding people — it’s fattening egos and protecting power.

And here’s the kicker:
Sometimes the ministry is big because the message is small.
Because when you stop preaching about sin, sanctification, and repentance, the crowds get a lot more comfortable.
It’s easy to grow an audience when you stop telling them they need to die to self.

But numbers don’t impress God.
Faithfulness does.
And He’s never been in the business of building empires — He’s in the business of building His Church.

Case Study: When the Fruit Turns Rotten — The Robert Morris Scandal

Consider the recent revelations surrounding Robert Morris, founder of Gateway Church in Texas. Once a prominent evangelical leader and spiritual adviser to a U.S. president, Morris was indicted in March 2025 on five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, stemming from alleged abuse in the 1980s. He admitted to "inappropriate sexual behavior" but denied the full extent of the allegations.

The scandal didn't stop with Morris. Investigations revealed that several church elders were aware of his misconduct but failed to act. This led to a significant leadership shakeup, with multiple resignations and the removal of four elders from their positions. The church also faced lawsuits alleging cover-ups of sexual abuse and harassment by other staff members.