By Pastor Dave Hentschel | June 15, 2025
1 Tim 5.17-6.2
This week, a familiar name in Christian music made headlines—Michael Tait, lead singer of the Newsboys and former member of DC Talk, publicly admitted to recent allegations of sexual misconduct and substance abuse. His confession brought a flood of emotions, not least because of a haunting DC Talk song from 1995: “What If I Stumble?”
The chorus still echoes:
“What if I stumble? What if I fall?
What if I lose my step and make fools of us all?”
The song opens with Brennan Manning’s stark quote:
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle.”
Nearly 30 years later, those lyrics feel less like a warning and more like a lament. Michael Tait has stumbled. Kevin Max has walked away from the faith. TobyMac has endured deep personal loss. Brennan Manning, whose voice introduces the track, battled addiction much of his life. These aren’t abstract failures—they’re real people, with real wounds, in real need of grace.
And that brings us to 1 Timothy 5:17–6:2, a passage where the apostle Paul speaks directly to the heart of Christian integrity, especially in leadership—but also in everyday life.
- Leaders and Compensation (1 Tim. 5:17–18)
Paul begins by saying that elders who lead well should be considered “worthy of double honor”—which includes both respect and financial support. Those who labor in preaching and teaching deserve provision, not neglect.
- Leaders and Accusation (1 Tim. 5:19–21)
Paul also acknowledges the unique vulnerability of leaders: they can become targets for false accusations, or worse—untouchable when sin is real. That’s why he lays out clear boundaries:
- Don’t receive a charge without evidence.
- But if sin is confirmed, it must be dealt with publicly and without partiality.
Integrity is not just about guarding a leader’s reputation—it’s about guarding the church’s witness. Integrity builds trust. Hypocrisy destroys it.
- Leaders and Ordination (1 Tim. 5:22–25)
Paul warns Timothy: don’t be hasty in laying on hands. Don’t rush leadership decisions. Why? Because a person’s character is like the tide—it eventually shows itself. Some sins are obvious, others hidden. But in time, everything comes to light.
- Leaders and Vocation (1 Tim. 6:1–2)
At first glance, it seems odd that Paul shifts to talking about bondservants and masters—but there’s a theme running through it: how we live out our faith in daily work matters.
Paul says those who work under authority should show respect—not just to honor people, but to honor God. Why? Because our witness is always on display. The gospel doesn’t just transform our beliefs—it transforms our behavior, including how we work, lead, and respond to those in authority.
Integrity vs. Hypocrisy
If we had to sum up the theme of this passage in one word, it’s integrity—being the same in public and private, in belief and behavior. And the opposite of integrity? Hypocrisy—pretending to be one thing while living another.
Paul’s concern is not just about church structure—it’s about spiritual health. Because when integrity collapses, trust is broken and the gospel is tarnished. That’s true for pastors. It’s true for fathers. It’s true for every follower of Jesus.
What If I Stumble?
Let’s go back to that song. “What if I stumble? What if I fall?” The truth is—we will. You will. I will. Every leader, every father, every Christian stumbles at some point.
But integrity isn’t about never stumbling. It’s about how we respond when we do. Do we hide it? Spin it? Minimize it? Or do we own it? Confess it? Repent and get back up, clinging to grace?
Whether you’re leading in a church, a business, or a home—your integrity matters. The gospel calls us to be the same person behind the scenes as we are in public.
Let’s be men—and women—who walk in integrity, so that when the question comes: “What if I stumble?”—we can answer with the cross. There’s grace. There’s restoration. And there’s strength to get back up.
