I decided to check the news one more time before I sat down to write this article. And yet another scandal has come to the surface. Andrea Ramsey (D), who was running for Congress in Kansas, has dropped out of the race due to harassment accusations. She is being accused of firing a male employee who refused to engage in sexual activity. She vehemently denies all charges. [1]
This comes in the wake of Roy Moore’s (R) stunning loss to Doug Jones (D) for Senate in deep-red Alabama. The last time Alabama elected a Democratic Senator was in 1992. [2] During Moore’s campaign, accusations surfaced that he had sexually assaulted teenage girls back in the 1970s. As a result, many of his allies distanced themselves, weakening his campaign and ultimately leading to this week’s loss. He denies all accusations and threatens to call for a vote recount.
These are only two of the many recent allegations against well-known figures from Hollywood to Washington. What do all of these sex scandals tell us?
Our society still has a sense of morality. Despite the many other signs that our culture is casting off all religious restraint, by nature, they still hold up a moral standard for our leaders and those in positions of authority.
Immorality has been a big problem for a long time. These accusations that are just now surfacing are for behavior from years–even decades–ago. This is nothing new. Immorality is an age-old problem.
People are gaining the courage to speak out. A few brave ones stepped up and spoke out, and now others are emerging from the shadows and sharing their stories.
“…be sure your sin will find you out” (NKJV, Numbers 32:23). Today, technology makes it easier than ever to follow a “paper trail.” But God has never changed. He sees everything we do and knows our every thought. These stories should only remind us that nothing we do goes unnoticed.
Christians must stand on principle, not party. While I cannot condemn Christians who vote, I do challenge Christians to consider their political involvement. When candidates are accused of immoral or dishonest behavior, how do we respond? Do we stand on party, justifying one candidate while condemning another, or do we stand on principle, even when it might not be convenient?
Wisdom is needed more than ever to discern the truth from lies. Accusations are powerful and can be used as a powerful weapon. Political campaigns have crafted stories against their opponents and even paid people to lie. More than ever, wisdom is needed to discern truth from lies.
Perhaps you and I will never run for senate. However, what we do in secret will impact us and those around us. The emerging stories of men like Roy Moore, Al Franken, and Harvey Weinstein should remind us of how depraved we are without Christ. It should spur us on to holiness, which is only found in Christ. And it should remind us that our decisions today will impact the rest of our lives.
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Ian Miller lives in Harrisburg, PA with his wife Marci, where they are involved in a Spanish church plant. Ian volunteers for a non-profit organization while working on his BA in English through College Plus. He is passionate about urban, cross-cultural church planting, and verbal, personal evangelism. |
Sources used:
- Rosenberg, Eli. “Female Congressional Candidate Leaves Race after Sexual Harassment Allegations Resurface.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 15 Dec. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/15/female-congressional-candidate-leaves-race-after-sexual-harassment-allegations-resurface/?utm_term=.8243002d6a7c.
- Chan, Tara Francis. “The Last Democrat to Win an Alabama Senate Race.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 13 Dec. 2017, www.businessinsider.com/the-last-time-alabama-elected-a-democrat-to-the-senate-richard-shelby-2017-12.