Ligonier Suspends RC Sproul Jr. in Wake of Ashley Madison Hack

Ligonier Ministries suspended R.C. Sproul Jr. after the Ashley Madison hack revealed he visited the adultery website. 

“In August 2014, in a moment of weakness, pain and from an unhealthy curiosity, I visited Ashley Madison. My goal was not to gather research for critical commentary, but to fan the flames of my imagination,” Sproul Jr. writes on his blog. 

Sproul Jr. is the son of famed theologian and author R.C. Sproul Sr., who founded Ligonier Ministries and still sits on the board.

Sproul Jr. says he left the site within minutes, never signed up for their services or interacted with their clients. 

Sproul Jr., who is currently single, maintains he has always remained faithful to his wife, even after her death in 2011.

“The grace of God’s judgment bore its fruit, and by His grace I repented of my sin,” Sproul writes. “By His grace, I have also received His forgiveness, the outworking of His love. Prophetic providence had done its good office. Jesus died for this sin, but there are still earthly consequences. With the revelation of the hack has come the revelation of my sin.”

Ligonier has suspended Sproul Jr. through July 1, 2016.

When the hack first made headlines, Sproul Jr. blogged about the effects of online sin. 

“My prayer is that we, even if we haven’t committed adultery, even if we haven’t flirted with committing adultery, even if we just learned about Ashley Madison, would just recognize and embrace the biblical truth that our sins will find us out,” Sproul Jr. wrote at the time. 

Sproul’s name is just the latest to be attributed to the site. 

LifeWay Research’s Ed Stetzer estimates more than 400 church leaders would resign due to the scandal.  

“Not everyone on the list signed themselves up,” Stetzer writes. “Among those who did, the sin and circumstances will be different. Many likely signed themselves up and didn’t actually go through with adultery. Regardless, though, trust has been shattered and hearts have been broken.”

Other famous Christians on the list include Josh Duggar, the eldest son from TLC’s former show 19 Kids and Counting. He has since entered a “long-term treatment” facility. 

Vlogger Sam Radar‘s information was released, as well. Radar quit the site years ago, and his wife, Nia, has publicly forgiven him.