Ok – I’m taking a break from my first week of Advent Devotionals to speak to an issue many of us are discussing. Though Matt Lauer is the most recent, the discussion on Christian Radio caught my attention. The morning DJs (one male, one female) were sharing their thoughts on the recent news, and the male DJ talked about how Mr. Lauer had been reporting on others in recent weeks even though he too was guilty. The male DJ suggested that we all need to be cautious about judging. I was ok with his words assuming he was speaking to other men, for we as men need to do some serious soul searching in regard to our use of power and sexual violence. If he was talking about removing the plank from our (men) own eye, then YES! Let’s turn the judgment inward and ask the tough personal questions. The woman DJ followed with a similar sentiment, suggesting how we all have fallen short of the glory of God and should not judge others. In most situations, I would agree with her words, but in this case, women need to “judge” or name or call out or speak up. My concern is the church’s historic silence in regard to such behavior has often left women feeling as if they are committing a sin if they speak the truth. I don’t wish to judge the DJ, but she talked about how she needed to look in the mirror and recognize her own sinfulness. In our culture, victims are expected to make excuses or take some of the blame for those who have caused the victimization. Let us never use the excuse of humanity’s frailties and sinful nature as reason why others should not be called to accountability for their inappropriate actions. As a man, I have to recognize where I have ignored or downplayed sexual misconduct or even predatory behavior because we Christians forgive, we believe a person can change, etc. I do believe in forgiveness and the power of transformation, but rarely does transformation occur without some sort of confession and repentance. We are at a turning point in our culture, and though painful for so many, it is a moment where the death of old unhealthy systems could lead to a birth of new healthier systems… and when I speak of systems, I am referring mostly to the structures that men have built (including myself)…men who need to step back and listen to the painful stories of those who have been mistreated, manipulated, violated and exploited. Our culture has some serious problems around power, sex and love. They are thoroughly mixed up, and on a personal note, I must continue to look deep within myself to see how I have been influenced and shaped by a misguided understanding of love that is overly sexualized and ignores the personhood of others. We are watching a dramatic cultural shift, but will the church remain ambivalent and be seen as more and more irrelevant to more and more people? I hope not…
