New York Representative Anthony Weiner announced his intention yesterday to resign from his seat due to a “sexting” scandal. While he was making his announcement, some in the audience jeered him.
There are many ways to view such a scandal: politically (does he have a future in politics?), legally (did he break the law?), ethically (did he “sext” on the taxpayers’ dime?), morally (how damaging were his actions?) and relationally (should his wife stay married to him?).
Let me add one more perspective: the spiritual one.
I have seen Anthony Weiner on television many times in the past. In my opinion, one word best describes his television persona: obnoxious. Whenever I saw him, he consistently talked over people in an argumentative and combative tone. While I’m not sure that he convinced anyone from the other side of the aisle to adopt his positions, he undoubtedly cheered his own constituents with his relentless rhetoric.
Party politics – and last name – aside, I never liked the man. And to many people, he seems even more unlikeable – even repulsive – after his recent revelations.
However, we need to remember a few simple truths about anyone – whether we like them or not – who is caught in a scandal.
First, God loves Anthony Weiner. The same Bible that tells me how much God loves me specifies that God loves everyone, regardless of their politics, height, accent, ethnicity, or spirituality. John 3:16 settles this issue once and for all. God loves the world of people, and Mr. Weiner is a person created in the image of Almighty God.
A wise man once said that there is nothing we can do to make God start loving us and there is nothing we can do to make God stop loving us. If God only loved those who are perfect, He would only love Jesus – and definitely not me or you!
Second, Anthony Weiner is a sinner – just like each one of us. While many Christians readily admit that they have a sin nature and commit general sins, it’s much more difficult for us to admit that we’ve committed specific sins. In fact, whenever someone accuses us of a particular sin, our immediate reaction is either to deny that we did anything wrong or to defend ourselves.
When confronted about doing wrong, few of us immediately admit that we err. Like Mr. Weiner, we have a tendency to blame others (“someone hacked my account”) for our own indiscretions. Sometimes we do this because we don’t want others to know what we’ve done. But other times, we do this because we refuse to admit to ourselves what we’ve done. We have an image of ourselves that we present to the world, and when that image gets tarnished, we try and convince people that they’re seeing things the wrong way.
Of course, this is the essence of sin: believing that I don’t engage in it. But I do – and so do you.
While you and I may never be guilty of the offense of “sexting” anyone – much less people we don’t know – we are guilty at times of presenting a false image of ourselves to the world. For that reason, I saw some of myself in Mr. Weiner’s recent public appearances. Didn’t you?
Third, Jesus died for every sin – and sinner – including Mr. Weiner. I haven’t yet heard any television or radio commentator frame this scandal in spiritual terms, so let me briefly do that.
Jesus died for every sin: for anger, manipulation, interrupting people, gossip, heresy, being judgmental … and thousands of others. Even though it’s never mentioned – or envisioned – in the New Testament, Jesus paid the price for “sexting” strangers as well.
According to my favorite Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Jesus actually became sin incarnate on the cross. He became anger and gossip … and sexting … to take them away. To use an Old Testament analogy, Jesus became our scapegoat. He voluntarily took the blame that we deserve.
Jesus also died for every sinner. He died for those who loved Him – like Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene – as well as those who didn’t – like the chief priests, Pontius Pilate, and King Herod. In our day, we might say that He died for Joel Osteen and Rick Warren just as much as He died for Charlie Sheen and Anthony Weiner.
No sin or person is ineligible for forgiveness.
Fourth, Jesus wants to redeem every sinner – even Mr. Weiner. Jesus wants to redeem his soul. Jesus wants to redeem his marriage. Jesus wants to redeem his usefulness. Jesus wants to redeem his talent, and his relationships, and his life.
Remember John 3:17? “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
It’s important that we all learn lessons through this experience. Don’t send risque photos of yourself to anyone, much less strangers. Don’t lie to people who trust you. Don’t blame other people for the things that you’ve done wrong. These are all legitimate issues for discussion around the family table and water cooler.
However, God does not want Mr. Weiner to be condemned. He wants to see him redeemed.
Whenever these celebrity or political scandals occur, I’m always concerned that the negative publicity will drive someone to self-destruction – and that would please the devil, not the Lord.
I once read about a prominent pastor who said something stupid to a woman on the phone. The two of them were not having a relationship, and she lived in another state, but his comment was overheard by his son. When later confronted, the pastor immediately repented. While the pastor should not have said what he did, the Christian community became involved and made things far worse. He eventually was forced to resign.
A restoration team was set up. The pastor was disgraced. Before the dust settled, he lost his ministry, his career, and his reputation – and in the end, he took his own life.
I’ve heard people say about this situation, “Well, we just don’t know what demons lurk inside of people.” But maybe we don’t know what demons lurk inside the church of Jesus Christ, either. Sometimes we make things worse by trying to make things better.
Some would say, “We all need to be careful. Be sure your sin will find you out!” But we all sin – all the time – and most people never find out what we’ve said or done wrong. It’s enough that we know it, confess it to God, receive His forgiveness, and move on. It’s Satan who wants to publicize our sins and destroy us.
If Mr. Weiner has truly apologized – and it appears as if he has – then he should not be condemned anymore. Those who try and jeer and shame a repentant person are guilty of sin themselves. Wasn’t it Jesus who uttered these words after presenting The Lord’s Prayer?
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Finally, we need to pray for Mr. Weiner. Some of us have talked about him to others. But have we talked to God about him at all? Rather than feeling smug about the fact that we’ve never “sexted” anybody, we should realize that we have our own personal struggles with certain sins. I know some older Christians who still commit the same sins they committed decades before. Rather than dump on someone they don’t know, shouldn’t they do something about their own shortcomings?
Let me offer a prayer for Mr. Weiner:
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for the privilege of living in this great land where we elect our own officials. Lord, one of those officials has been guilty of some serious indiscretions, and although he has asked forgiveness from many people, I pray that he will ask forgiveness from You as well. Through this experience, may he hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and respond to Christ’s invitation for salvation. May he receive the help he needs to conquer his personal demons. And may his friends and family – especially his wife – love him unconditionally so that he may once again become productive.”
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Thanks!
Jim – thanks for this. I am not one who usually really cares about things like this (the scandal) , but this one has just hit me between the eyes. I’ve thought about what happens when it’s just too much. The story of the pastor is chilling. I want to lead with grace and so often don’t. Thanks for this.
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Kathi, thanks so much for your comment and for the link on Facebook. I had my all-time best day on views, and for that I thank you sincerely. When we start to destroy people with our comments – even rooting for their marriage to fall apart – we have crossed a line and are now standing with the enemy. It’s easy to do that when you don’t like someone, but our faith teaches that everyone can be redeemed by Jesus Christ. Keep doing the great work you’re doing!
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Well said Jim!
Linda
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Thanks for your encouragement, Linda! Please wish Jeff a Happy Father’s Day for me!
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Powerful Jim! I thought I was reading and listening to a sermon of yours again. Love Kim
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Kim, that means a lot coming from you, since you are constantly having to listen to sermons that are only meant for you!
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Thank you, Jim. We all need reminders like this.
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It’s nice to hear from you, Dana. Thanks so much for reading! Hope you and your family are doing well.
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Good thoughts here Jim. I appreciate your words and heart.
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It’s great to hear from you, Steve. Thanks for reading and writing – and Happy Father’s Day to you!
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Thank you Jim we are all sinners and must be able to forgive.
Marcy
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It’s great to hear from you, Marcy! Thanks so much for reading the article and writing to me. It means a lot.
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Feeling a little small. Thanks for higher-minded thinking.
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Teresa, I appreciate your encouragement. While there have been times I’ve been guilty of “piling on” a public official, I look at things a bit differently since I know a little bit about being the object of hatred from a small but determined group of people. God bless you!
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I really enjoyed this, Dad! I think that many Christians are so quick to point out the flaws and sins in others and choose to overlook their own flaws and sins. I know I am guilty of this and am working on this. I think it is also important to remember that Jesus loves everyone, and that He died for all sins… thanks for reminding us of that! Good job!
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Sarita, one of the reasons we are so quick to point out the flaws of others is that this enables us to (a) exonerate ourselves because we didn’t do something that bad, and (b) divert attention away from ourselves onto a convenient scapegoat. Thanks for reading and writing! I love you!
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