Did The Real Tims Stand Up Before His Death?

Bishop T. D. Jakes

Over the weeks since the death of Dr. Zachery Tims, one thing has become crystal clear, Zachery Tims had a historic struggle with addiction in the form of drugs, sexuality and lifestyle. He also a current and very real struggle that ultimately effected not only his life, but also his ministry. What is also clear is that many of not most of his most close associates did not provide an intervention or review of the most important issues, bringing their friend to accountability.

"I don't know what happened in that room in New York,...but I can only hope that as Zach was dying, Dr. Tims stood up." ~ Bishop T. D. Jakes

Please be clear, noone can make an individual do anything right or wrong. Individuals have an opportunity to choose their own path by which they live and make decisions. Ultimately, Zachery chose his own path and paid the price that comes along with it. I'm not surprised that individuals can hold secrets and those secrets can get by even the most close friends and associates. However, I am very surprised when I hear that individuals knew about the secrets well before the secret was exposed to the general public. In those cases, I wonder what did the individuals that knew the "secret" do, if anything, to eliminate the secret or the problems at hand? 

With all of that said, aside from the "powdery white substance" found in his pocket, nothing has arisen the speculations more than the commentary of Tims' eulogist, Bishop T. D. Jakes.  Jakes Not only describes two persons, a "Dr. Tims" and a "Zach",  but he also clearly admits that he knew Tims had a problem. During the course of his admission he opens up that it (the problem) was a very large and serious one:

"I thought I was the only one who know how unhappy Zach was, how broken he was, how afraid he was if anybody was to see any flaw in him. He tried hard to heal himself, to fix himself," ~ Bishop T. D. Jakes

Not only did Jakes see two different people or persons within this man, it would seem that he also admitted that Zachery's problems were well known to himself, but were hidden, as far as he knew, from others. Jakes described the man as not simply having a problem, but a man "broken" and one that tried to "hide" as well as "heal" himself.  What Jakes describes are the signs, acts and behaviors of a person suffering from addiction and possible mental illness. 

What I am confident of from Jakes description is that a stage of addiction is shame and covering up the shame of addiction provides an intimate personal reflection. From one who is addicted, it is usually described in the following manner:

"They won't like me if they really knew me" or "I must keep this to myself, because if someone else knows, they will not like me"

Therefore the addict makes a deliberate attempt to hide himself and disassociate himself from his behavior in


public at all costs. Ultimately, it's not about the act of sin itself, it's about other people's perceptions and reactions to the addict that takes on the greatest level of concern. This leads to split personalities and ultimately instability manifested through sharp emotional swings. Zachery had all of these characteristics as described by not only Jakes but others who delivered information regarding the man over the last few weeks.

Where Was The Pressure To Get Right? 

Then there was a seeming lax in dealing with Tims issues that Jakes admits. Although he may have been talking about minimal issues he certainly does state that the "cuteness" of Zach was what hindered him from being more direct in certain situations. 

Zach had a way of acting like he was your kid," Jakes said. "He would come into your house and go straight for the refrigerator. You couldn't say anything, because he'd bust that big old grin on you."

 In other words "Zach" was allowed to get away with certain things that "Dr. Tims" would have never asked for or to do from the beginning. Now the question I would have for Jakes is why was that the case, and if he could so plainly see the difference between the "preacher" and the man what was done to try to close that gap? Well we recently had a reader say that he discerned peace upon Zachery Tims life through his "smile"??? This type of sentiment is esotericism at its zenith, and I'm convinced that the knowledge is not for rational individuals to perceive. 

Did Jakes really understand why Tims was so broken and the seriousness of him being broken as he tried to lead almost 8,000 people? Obviously he understood that he was not happy...but did he dig deeper and what did he provide to heal the breach? 

It seems that Jakes was more interested in painting the picture of Tims that he and his life was acceptable to God. Charisma News allows us to look itnto the theology of Jakes message in which he claimed that God was the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and that Jacob was known as a liar, a cheat and a thief.  At that point Jakes states:

“If He is a God of Jacob, than He is a God of Zachery Tims,” 

Then it is recorded that Jakes also delivered the following statement regarding Tims actions in contrast to his  service to the Lord:

"The light burns things you don't want it to burn,"

Now aside from the fact that I really cannot be certain what Jakes was talking about especially in light of the fact that he seemed to have delivered a message that exonerated Tims of any guilt for his actions, the scripture says that God is a consuming fire, and the understanding derived from that is that the light and fire of God burns up that which is not of Christ. Ultimately whatever a person does not submit to Christ is something that can and will destroy destroy them. 

The Preacher Association

The really sad part to this whole mess is the fact that Tims had the availability of all things that Christians believe are important today and yet NONE of those things could tame his cross-addiction into perverted sexuality and primary addiction of drugs. He was at the top of the world in  associations with fellow pastors and Christian leaders. 

Telling secrets does not create accountability and does not suggest that one is repenting or has repented!

There are certain spaghetti backed, weak-kneed, broke back mountain leaders that hate what I have to say regarding this issue, however the facts are clear to me...Ministry associates, that dwell in money, power, fame secrecy and crowd control, must wake up and realize that NONE of those things secure or help the spirit of an individual free themselves from sin. Simply knowing or being aware of the sins of others does not exonerate them and neither does it exonerate you from stewardship and accountability. Unfortunately, for some in the ministry, knowing about the sins of others is only a greater license for them to engage in sins to a greater degree and level. Being at the top of "Christian world" DOES NOT have a bearing on being  saved,  set free or delivered. It is painfully obvious that too many that we hail as "influential" Christian leaders today have no more integrity than many receiving or coming into salvation. 

People Worship Is The Problem 

I was recently entertained by the testimony of someone stating that a particular leader had acquired a Rolls Royce Phantom, a Bentley and a $6 Million home at the whim and will of the members of his church. In this case the church simply lavished these gifts upon their leader because they loved him so much. Aside from the fact that this is simply inappropriate church worship of a leader, some ministers feel especially privileged to be n the company of such individuals even assuming that their "blessing" will somehow roll off and that information received in that circle is some sort of special information. The problem is that the Bentley, Phantom and home will all be left here after the person is gone and they will have to give a greater account to God as to why they allowed the people to worship them in such a fashion. The worship of people and personalities does not set them free. 

In order to be free one must dig deeply and take serious time soul searching out of the public eye...only a fool would risk eternity on the probability that sin may be outlived or that good deeds will stand before God and provide a way for a person to manipulate themselves into God's favor. Only a much bigger fool would encourage someone to simply continue in their sins and let the chips fall where they may.

When the so called "will" is greater than the ethical and moral responsibility to the God (who's "will" it is supposed to be in the first place), then one should know that what they are doing is not going to stand in eternity. Neither will it stand among men, because one thing that is hated at the street is hypocrisy.     

The sad part is that Jakes described Tims funeral as one his most difficult days in ministry. I would agree that it was a difficult day for both his former wife Riva and his surviving children. But they were, after all, used to difficult days at the hands of this man's sins. Time will only tell the details fo what really happened in this case, but of assurity nothing surprised God or caught God off guard.

Conclusion 

There is nothing more valuable and important in the life of a minister than living right. TV, radio, satellite, internet, blogs, facebook, and such like, are no substitute for righteous living. One can try to say that Zachery was the victim and to a certain extent he was...he was the victim of "important and IMPOTENT" spiritual leaders leaders who only think in terms of a natural and physical dynamic, who speak in terms of material and philosophical constructs but who posses no real power that penetrates the surface.

In the movie Valkyrie, a plot to kill Adolf Hitler and end the war was discovered. Unfortunately, all the conspirators were executed for their treason against Hitler. The record that they left to history however was one saying that, even though they had lost their lives, they wanted history to reflect that all men were not as evil as Hitler, and that they were liberators of humanity away from the oppression and lie of the Fuehrer. It was for that cause, to make a difference, they gladly gave their lives. 

In order to do the right thing, it may cost a true minister all of the associates in his immediate vicinity and sphere of influence. However, the minister must know that it is worth everything within him to make sure that the world knows that HE/SHE is NOT like those around him, that he is a person of integrity and "let the chips fall where they may" on the side of moral integrity, righteousness and true holiness! It may take something to be free, but it is certainly and definitely worth it. Take it from me, I know! 

Blessed!