People All Over The World Are Talking About It.

It could blow you away!

We're talking about the Clintewinsky Saga.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Yes, they really did it.  And what a stimulation it caused to happen in the USA's business world.

 To wit:

There is however, a downside - As a result, the talk shows and other so called comedic types have gorged themselves, as they love to do, on sensationalism, distasteful rhetoric and simple filth.   No matter what their feeding frenzy, at others' expenses may cost, this sham will continue through the next millennium and who knows how much longer.  And who, may I ask, is really able to cast the first stone?   The church?  The law?  Who? What?

Some may well say that this entire page is in poor taste and its author should be crucified.  Perhaps so.  Perhaps, too, we should take stock of exactly how we are making our judgments.

Mt 7:2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

There's a lot to think about when it comes to judgment.  Here is a starter for you:

1.  Don't be hasty!
2.  WWJD (What would Jesus do?
3. Are you casting the first (sinless) stone?
4. What have others done in similar situations?
5. What affects will a harsh judgment have upon innocent family members and friends?
6. What if it were you?
7. What does the Bible have to say about it?

In recent years, a number of high profile people have been involved in scandals.  There were names like Nixon, Colson, Baker and Swaggert.  More recently there is Lewinsky, Clinton, Rev. Lyons and others.  Some were/are politicians, some simply lay people, and others are members of the clergy.  Hmmmm.

When it comes to high profile people then - we must explore whether or not we can make a value judgment on whether or not we should apply a rule of separation of Church and State?   Are politicians to be held less responsible for the damage they cause then members of the clergy?  Should there be a different set of rules because of some alleged difference in having to answer to the public between the two?  Should the President of a Country be exempted from these "norms?"

Reality Check

When the Watergate scandal erupted, certain high profile politicians not only lost their credibility, but also their freedom, as they became incarcerated for their crimes.  But there was also an exception.  Richard M. Nixon avoided impeachment and prosecution for anything, by resigning his office.  In other words, the "little guys" did the suffering, while the President slipped out from under.  One of those men, Chuck Colson, found Christ while incarcerated, and now serves God in a most beautiful and conscientious manner.

When Rev. Jim Baker was indicted for fraudulent use of ministry funds, he lost his ministry and became not only a felon, but the laughing stock of contemporary Christianity.  Likewise, Rev. Jimmy Swaggert was found guilty of sexual misconduct not only once, but twice.  Where is he today?

When a certain U.S. Airforce female pilot was brought up on charges for having an affair with an enlisted man, what happened to her career?  When the present president is found to be a womanizer' and X rated details are splattered in front of the public for months on end, we are told to stay out of his private life, it is none of our business.   Do you see some things in these two paragraphs that perhaps "ought not to be?"  Is the country's highest official, and most public one, somehow exempted from the accountability of his actions?

First of all, we must deal with the morality issues.  Each of the men above, were powerful men.  They held, each in his own right,  positions of authority and responsibility.   But first and foremost, they were humans beings.  Does the Bible have something to say?  But of course, and it deals with what I term "progressive degeneration."

Nu 14:18  The LORD is long suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Ever since the "fall" in Eden, men have taken for themselves, a position of power.  Power over their families, women and anyone else they could take advantage of.  From time to time, God set aside or brought forth special men for special service.  To wit. He, God, introduced the office of the clergy (Priesthood, Prophets,  Disciples and finally Apostles).  And in doing this, he introduced a distinction between civil servants and the clergy.  This must be noted, however we may prefer to find it distasteful to do so.  God does indeed make a distinction in accountability.

God gave Moses "The Law" on Mt. Sinai, and it is a set of rules that denote God's own personality and morality.  It has not, and will not change.  Some would say that the law applies only to the Old Testament, but perhaps it would be a good idea to take note of what Jesus taught --

Joh 15:10  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.  RSV

What are these commandments?  First of all, we must remember that the Father's Commandments are the law as given to Moses.  This is the law that Jesus came to fulfill and did so, perfectly!  That being the case, we should remind ourselves that if the fulness of the law abides in Christ, and he in us, then our obedience  to the law should be paramount in our Christian walk.  I have often taught, and always will, that those 10 commandments are the revelation of the personality of God.  There is more to this.

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  KJV

Let us make a note here.  Jesus is telling us that we should love each other as he first loved us, with the complete, "agape" love that stems from perfect obedience to the law.  But Jesus, knowing our weakness also makes it more possible to do so, by making himself the propitiation of our sins, and thus able to keep the law by keeping this one, new, commandment.  That's a lot to think about my friends.

Is there a bottom line then?  Yes dear people there is.  We are all imperfect .  It doesn't matter who the person is.  It doesn't matter what position or profession or what simple form of labor a person performs.  What matters is what is in the heart of each individual, and God knows us all.

Ec 10:2  A wise man's heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool's heart toward the left.  RSV
 


Where does your heart fit in?