It's Personal

This week, allegations have swirled around now disgraced and former Congressman Mark Foley. As I read in another column, if you haven't read the IM transcripts between this pervert and his teenage victims, then don't. It's disgusting business and it further supports my theory that we are wretched creatures at heart and that will affect everything we will do in life....unless we are changed by the grace of Christ.

There are theories a-plenty regarding Mr. Foley's missteps. Most on the political right belive this to be a hatchet job, designed to undermine an upcoming election. Many on the political left believe this to be a broad, conspiracy, reaching to the highest levels of government. Frankly, I think everyone, if they are being honest, believe this to be exactly what it is: a disgusting adult taking advantage of young individuals in his service for his own sexual gratification.

But, let's step back a moment. Do you remember the Clinton impeachment? Do you remember what the political left kept tramping out to whatever camera would record them? It was the line, "The President's sex life has no bearing on his abilities as President. What he does in his personal life is no business of ours, as long as it does not affect his job." The President's actions, abusing a young person in his charge, was ok so long as it did not affect his ability to create a false economy.

It looks like situational ethics may have struck again.

If what goes on in someone's personal life should never hold someone accountable to the loss of their position (as, some argued, it did in the case of President Clinton), then why has Congressman Foley been ousted? Why all of a sudden the righteous indignation by those on the political left who used to trumpet about the phrase, "What happens in someone's personal life is no business of ours?"

Given the impending election, I think you can answer those questions.

Here's the thing: the problem with situational ethics, or that realm of thought that suggests that there are no absolutes, is that that statement is self-defeating. If there are no absolutes, than that absolute statement is patently false, right?

The fact of the matter is that there is an absolute Truth. There is an absolute moral law-giver. There is an absolute moral law. And there is no way we can possibly keep the entirety of that moral law. In fact, from when we first drew breath, we already failed to live up to the entirety of the law.

That's where the doctrine of grace steps in. Christ recognized that our depravity left us with no chance of obtaining righteousness in and of our own pursuit. We would be tilting at windmills, fighting against the goads, or in some other way imitating the blind ambition of the Man of La Mancha were we to try to make ourselves righteous. It just is not possible. But, Christ made provision for out inability. Through his Son's death and sacrifice on the cross - the requisite penalty for our unrighteousness - we are granted Sonship in God's family.

But the doctrine of grace does not give us further license to sin. We are still told to "be holy as God is holy." We are still given the mandate to pursue righteousness, and flee folly and evil.

And perhaps no where is this action more poignantly noticed than in public office and sex. Sex was designed by God, created by Him for our enjoyment and attachment to our spouse. It is meant to be savored, enjoyed, relished, and hotly pursued - but within the parameters of a life-long, marital relationship. Public office makes brilliant what is done in secret, often at the hands of one's opposition. Thus, when one who occupies public office perverts the intention of sex, scandal ensues.

Whether or not this is a hatchet job by the political left; whether or not this is a broad conspiracy reaching to the highest levels of government; or whether or not what one does in one's private life does or does not have anything to do with one's performance in public office, what remains is one absolute: what one ascribes to in private will affect what one does in public.

Gasp! It's an absolute!

You see, if we hold to nothing, we are accountable to nothing, and so nothing limits our action. If we hold to Christ, we are accountable to Christ, and so Christ's Word limits our action. Well, let's restate that: If we hold to nothing, we are enslaved to everything; but, if we hold to Christ, we are free indeed. Truly, it's a matter of the heart.

It's personal.