Robert Morris and What I Learned About the Power of Atonement

For those of you who don’t know, I am a social justice author. I’ve written books for the homeless entitled, The Do-It-Yourself Guide out of Homelessness: An Interactive Call to Action Guide Written for the Homeless a book about faith and race in the church, entitled The Elephant in the Church: Hard Questions About Faith and Race, and two books about the American Legal System entitled Crime, Criminals & Redemption: What the Bible Says About Crimes and Those Who Commit Them along with Policing in Faith: A Discussion About the Police, For the Police and the People They Serve.

While doing research for my next project, I sought to understand atonement, and how it pertains to sentencing. To try to get a better understanding, I mapped out the following:

But because my research has to do with sentencing, I decided that the sin would be analogous to the crime. So, its…

But then I saw…

Along with…

After making several adjustments (feel free to share your own in the comments), in my spirit I heard, the first step is to repent of sin.

“Wow!” I thought.

That would mean, God can do nothing about the crime unless he (or she) first repents of his/her sin. Therefore, the first order of business is to repent of the sin that led to crime. Thereafter, repent for having committed a crime. My map then looked like:

It was at this point that I begin to see that after repentance; the criminal has to receive forgiveness. Ordinarily that would seem simple, but you must understand that receiving is not automatic.

Said criminal would first have to BELIEVE that Christ has already died both his/her sins and the crime. They would also have to believe that whatever spiritual requirement, statute or ordinance that could apply, in which the enemy (through the victim and the courts) would try to impose, they would have to receive – by faith – that Colossians 2:13, 14 applied to them.

And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.

My dear readers, let’s now ask ourselves a serious question: Do those regulations and legal decrees apply to sexual sins and sex crimes?

Yesterday, May 9, 2025, Robert Morris, former pastor of Gateway Church, pled not guilty to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. When I read the post, all I could think is that Mr. Morris knows about the atoning blood of Christ.

Let me preface this by saying, I understand it is not politically or socially correct to think that the atoning blood of Christ applies to Mr. Morris’ case nor am I saying that his stance applies to every sexual assault case. But this is a real-time, real-world example of how atonement applies today.

First thing we have to remember:

Atonement is not for the innocent. It is for the guilty.

Whether we like it or not. Whether we agree with it or not. This is why Christ came.

So why are you feeling some kind of way about my statement? Because as Christians, we’d like to believe that atonement applies to certain crimes. As Christians, we have no problem applying atonement to white collar crimes such as:

But when it comes to sex crimes, somehow atonement does not apply. And don’t get me wrong. As a domestic violence, violent crime and multiple sexual assault survivor - I. GET. IT. No one wants a sexual abuser to go free. But this is not about freedom. This is about atonement.

So, let’s, for a moment, think only in terms of atonement.

Jesus went to hell for three days which means while He was there, He encountered the foulest, vilest, evilest, most wicked spirits to ever have inhabited the heavenlies, all the earth and the whole of hell. Now ask yourself: Of those foul, vile, evil, and wicked spirits, do you think any were behind the 433,000 sexual assaults reported in 2024? Do you think that any were responsible for the sexual assaults that occur every 68 seconds in the US today?

So again, do you believe He only went to hell for white collar criminals?

Again, whether we like it or not. Whether we agree with it or not. Jesus died for the sins of mankind, of which include those that involve sexual violence. I did not make that up. Jesus said it!

In Mark 3:28, 29 Jesus said,

“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”

When Jesus said, ‘all sins will be forgiven’, He meant all sins. He could have easily said, “all sins will be forgiven men except sexual assault”, but He did not. He said “all sins will be forgiven”; not just the ones we deem forgivable.

Though this should go without saying – all sinners are not forgiven and therein lies our relief. Relief in the sense, that ‘while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ We – meaning you and I - did not receive forgiveness until we first confessed our sins (Rom. 5:8).

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. – I John 1:8-10

That being said, though Christ died for those who commit sex crimes, those who do will not be forgiven unless and until they confess that they have. That may take a long time and a lot of humility, but it should bring some relief to those who thought atonement was automatic, and that sexual criminals get off scot-free.

The thing about their confession is that it is twofold.

1. They must confess their sexual sin(s), and…

2. They must confess their sex crime(s).

Both can be done in private and is between them and God. Once they do confess and/or ask God for forgiveness, God may lead them to do work(s) of repentance. So, what does that look like?

Repentance for Those Who Commit Sex Crimes

In Luke 3:10-15, we find John the Baptist, explaining what repentance looks like. It reads,

So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”  Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”  And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

In other words, repentance is not just saying “I’m sorry!” or confessing your sins, you have to do something.

In the instance of sexual assault, it could begin with a period of abstinence and/or may include confessing said crime to the authorities which may result in imprisonment. Not saying this is the blueprint but this is what repentance could look like in real time. This is why Christ came. To not only die for the sins of the world but to give us an opportunity to repent.

‘…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.’ - 1 John 2:1, 2

Again, atonement is not for the innocent. It is for the guilty.

We have no problem applying atonement to those who commit misdemeanors, certain felonies and a host of white-collar crimes. But when it comes to murder or sexual assault, most believe it does not apply. But could it be that they (meaning you) have misunderstood salvation?

Salvation means healed, delivered, protected and made whole. Therefore, when any Christian, whether church goer or criminal, makes Jesus the Lord of their life, they receive salvation. All of it. The problem is whether they (meaning you) understand the depth of salvation.

• Simply put, have you sought the scriptures, prayed about or taken the time to seriously consider the depth of salvation and the fact that it covers all sins?

• Do you know what depths Christ went to ensure that every victim of sexual assault experiences the totality of salvation which includes being physically healed of the assault, being delivered from the circumstances and the attacker, having the comfort of being physically protected and made whole of the trauma?

• Do you know that Jesus went to the depths of hell to ensure that perpetrators and traffickers could be delivered from the desire wielded by foul, evil and unclean spirits that seduce them into such behaviors? And more importantly…

• Have you ever taken the time to consider that both could...

‘…comprehend…what is the width and length and depth and height— to know [and experience] the love of Christ which passes knowledge’ – Ephesians 3:18, 19

If not, then as a member of the body of Christ, please pray about it.

Because if we, as MATURE believers of the body of Christ, don’t explore the depths of salvation and we, the body of Christ, only apply salvation to heaven, then we, the body of Christ will miss the opportunity to apply it sexuality, which means that we, the body of Christ, will continue to be taken aback when we see the likes of Pastor Robert Morris and Bishop Jakes, stand accused of sex crimes. But should we really be taken aback since the Lord Himself faced someone who, too, stood accused.

Now early in the morning [Jesus] came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:2-11

To be totally transparent, as someone with a sexually promiscuous past, I cannot, in full conscious, judge anyone who has committed sexual sins. Whether premarital, extramarital, or homosexual, I will not throw a stone neither will I condemn those who commit sex crimes. I said I cannot. My dear reader I cannot speak for you nor am I trying to convince you that you should. I mention this because Jesus said,

“He (or she) who is without sin…let him (or her) throw a stone…” 

He did not say “He who is without sexual sex”. The Lord also said,

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Mat. 7:1 – emphasis added

In other words, if you say, “They need to be thrown under the jail!”, rest assured, you will be judged for your sexual sins. And though you may not have a sexual past, should you find yourself judging those who do, a similar judgment awaits because remember: Jesus said he who is without sin, not just sexual ones.

Please know I am not advocating for criminals. I am advocating for an exit. One that may (or may not) result in imprisonment but definitely leads them to repentance and redemption.

I understand there are those who vehemently oppose what I have written. To you I say you have every right. But it is not me you oppose, it is the Word of God but again, you have every right.

I also understand there are those who have been brutally raped and trafficked, and for that I am sorry. I pray you experience total salvation, recovery and restoration in every area of your life. And please know, this is in no way to minimizing your pain, trauma or experience. I only write because as I sat on the floor of my bedroom, in a pool of blood, after 15+ high powered AR-shells riddled my house in 2011, I forgave the shooter. While my son and I waited for the police, we prayed over my leg – that I would walk and run again, and in that moment, I forgave. So, I would never minimize your trauma.

I write because had I not forgiven; I undoubtedly would have become bitter. Especially since sixteen years have passed, and the case is still cold. So please know. I am in no way advocating for sex criminals to go unpunished. I am advocating for them to get on the road to repentance, even if it means the person who shot me gets to take the same road.

To you, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I have to remind you that we serve a God who does the impossible.

If He can use a young shepherd to kill a military superpower (David); a queen to expose an existential threat (Esther) and forgive a man who persecuted and was an accessory to killing Christians (Paul), then certainly He can heal and provide justice to the woman in Mr. Morris’ case while walking Bishop Jakes out and through his…all at the same time.

If Jesus can heal ‘all manner of sickness and all manner of disease’, raise the dead, and give us (as His disciples) power over unclean spirits, of which are behind sexual sins, then surely His love and power can make repentance available to those who commit sex crimes…but only if they want it, and only if they confess their sins and do the work(s) of repentance. (Mat. 4:23)

In the upcoming months, as we watch the trials of Pastor Robert Morris and Bishop Jakes play out, let’s keep this in mind. Let’s not condone nor condemn but remain silent in judgment while believing for repentance, no matter how it may come.

Pray this with me: Heavenly Father, I have not thought about the depth of salvation. I did not know that it applies to sexual assault or my sexual sins. I ask that You would forgive me Heavenly Father, and forgive those who did this to me. Help to apply it in ways I never knew so that I can serve and honor You. In Jesus' name.