Article
The Devil’s Strategy to Destroy Church Planters—And How to Hit Back
Isolation is the enemy’s playground. Community is God’s design for our protection.
I was in the middle of small group when I received a barrage of text messages. People from different spaces in my life were desperately trying to reach me. Their pastor had been fired for a moral failure. They felt betrayed, confused, and lost. With nowhere else to turn, they turned to me.
As I sat glued to my phone that night, I learned the details of my friend’s failure through the church’s public statement. A co-laborer in my city, a mentor of sorts, had fallen. In that moment, and in the days to come, there were more questions than answers.
As small group wrapped up that night, I shared the news with the 10 men seated on worn couches and the cold concrete floor in my unfinished basement. Above us, our wives sat in the living room. And in that moment, I did one of the most important things a church planter can ever do—I gave them permission.
Permission is Foundational
I gave them permission to see me, to probe deeply into my life, to challenge me. I told them I needed it. I needed to be known.
It wasn’t simply because this pastor led a mega-church that he failed—though that may have been a contributing factor. It was because he wasn’t truly known. Isolation—the cultivation of an online and on-stage persona—and a distancing from honest accountability had paved the way for his downfall.
Let’s be perfectly clear: it’s not just the big names with the big stages who are vulnerable—it’s every single one of us.
The Enemy’s Strategy
In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter, having just addressed elders in the church, warns, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Church planter, pastor, team member—the devil is your adversary, actively seeking to destroy you.
Who is the “someone” he is able to devour? Peter identifies four types of people in verses 6-8:
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The Proud
Satan targets those who think too highly of themselves—those who seek their own glory, their own platform, and love their own voice more than God’s. The antidote? “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:6).
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The Anxious
Satan preys on those in seasons of anxiety. Worry and emotional distress make us more susceptible to his attacks. God’s response? “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
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The Internal Idealist
This person thinks, “That could never be me.” Like pride, this mindset blinds us to the dark nature of our flesh and our universal vulnerability. The call here is to be “sober-minded” (1 Peter 5:8).
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The External Idealist
Instead of ignoring their own darkness, this person underestimates the enemy and the world around them, making them even more vulnerable to Satan’s schemes. The remedy? Be “watchful” (1 Peter 5:8).
All of these tendencies, if unchecked, lead to isolation—Satan’s primary goal. He wants to pull us away from community so he can pick us off one by one.
The Response: How We “HIT” Back
Peter provides a battle plan in 1 Peter 5:9–11. When the enemy comes to “hit” us, we hit back with three key defenses:
H – Honesty
We must be honest with ourselves and others about our struggles. We are not above temptation. We must confess our weaknesses, acknowledging that we need help.
I – Intentional Relationships
Our struggles are common to “the brotherhood” around the world. We must intentionally build deep, honest friendships—not just with fans but with true friends. We need people who will hold us accountable and help us see our blind spots.
T – Training
We must commit to practicing spiritual disciplines. These disciplines shape and strengthen us through the grace of God. As Peter writes, Christ Himself will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” us (1 Peter 5:10).
We are all vulnerable, but we do not have to fight alone. The key to enduring in ministry—and in faith—is to be deeply known by God and by others. When the enemy attacks, we resist him by standing firm in faith, embracing honesty, building intentional relationships, and committing to training in godliness.
Isolation is the enemy’s playground. Community is God’s design for our protection. Let’s choose to be known.
