SoF S2E3 The Hidden Battle: Lust, Leadership, and the Call to Holiness
In this soul-searching episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, host Rudy Swigart dives into a topic that too often remains buried in the shadows of church life: lust and sexual temptation, especially among those in ministry and spiritual leadership.
The conversation begins with the reality of pastoral burnout, serving in high-stress, low-control environments with little visible reward. When volunteers are inconsistent, when crises are constant, and when the emotional needs of a congregation feel unending, it can create an atmosphere where temptation gains a foothold, especially for leaders who feel isolated or unseen.
But Rudy doesn’t stop at the diagnosis. This episode is about naming the hidden struggle, yes, but also about lifting the veil on the hope of healing.
The emotional and spiritual toll of unpaid, overworked church leadership
Why lust thrives in secrecy, stress, and spiritual fatigue
The role of pastoral anonymity, and why it might be God’s gift rather than a punishment
Lust as a misdirected hunger, a desire to feel something when leadership feels dry or unrewarded
How grace, holiness, and confession can dismantle cycles of shame
A challenge to pastors: “Are you elevating the name of Jesus, or trying to recover a sense of your own worth?”
Why the impact of one soul is still worth the hours, the labor, and the obscurity
This episode is not about condemnation, it’s about courage. It’s about helping pastors, ministry leaders, and faithful believers acknowledge the unseen struggle while pointing them toward freedom, accountability, and transformation through the power of Christ.
“If you’re in a dark place, you’re not alone. But you can’t stay there. The body of Christ must be a place where even leaders can be honest, and be healed.”
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For pastoral coaching, support, and recovery resources, explore Faith Nest
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