“The Christian Worldview Responds To News Of Sexual Misconduct Allegations”

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Over the past ten days, the news has revealed allegations of sexual misconduct against TV stars, stand-up comedians, Hollywood producers, and politicians. One of my friends recently suggested redesignating Twitter to "Where To Find Out Who Is Being Accused Of Sexual Misconduct Today" because it's all that people are talking about on there. It's a mess. So here are a couple of randomly-ordered reminders about how the Christian worldview makes sense of all of it:

First, we should be reminded not to be too hasty in believing either the initial accusations or the initial denials in these situations. Solomon said, "The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him" (Prov. 18:17). We should exercise patience and wisdom to wait until the truth is known. Hasty judgments on matters which simply cannot be accurately known does not reveal godly wisdom.

Secondly, if a believer is accused of gross immorality while he is innocent, he should say that he is innocent. There is a difference between Jesus' being accused of blasphemy because of the controversial words which he spoke and a man being accused of gross sexually immoral behavior. Sometimes, the world will see behavior that is characteristically Christian and demand that it is wrong—in that case, we will choose to be silent as a lamb led to slaughter. "...if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God" (1 Pet. 2:20). But if the world accuses a Christian of genuine sin which he has not committed, no Christian should resign himself to the world thinking that he is a flagrant hypocrite. If a believer is accused of a crime of this nature, and if he is truly innocent, he should take Job's behavior toward his friends as an example and maintain that innocence (cf. Job 31:1-40).

Third, remember that your choices MATTER. All of them. All the time. Whether or not you can fathom a way that a moment of impurity might come back to haunt you, make the right choice. Deuteronomy 30 is from the old covenant, but that does not, in any way, diminish the bearing of truth stated there: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)  Maintain your integrity. Refuse to compromise the principles of holiness which ought to govern our hearts and our actions. And while you may yet suffer for doing good, you can be assured that you will not garner unnecessary suffering down the road as a consequence of your own immorality.

- Dan Lankford, minister

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