Today’s Scripture Reading (September
8, 2015): Leviticus 24
R. C. Sproul
Jr., the son of noted Reformed theologian Robert Charles Sproul, has been
suspended from his ministry position at Ligonier Ministries, an organization
that was founded by his father, because he has admitted that in a moment of
weakness he visited the Ashley Madison site and left an old e-mail address. The
theologian then says that he quickly left the site never to return, and that he
never actually contacted anyone on the site. Sproul’s wife died in 2011 after a
long battle with cancer. He maintains that he has never been unfaithful to her
either before or after her death. The Board at Ligonier suspended the Christian
Pastor for a period of one year for his lapse in judgment.
And I have
to admit that there is something about this that doesn’t quite sit right about
the judgment. If Sproul is telling the truth (and I have no evidence that he is
not) then he made an unfortunate step at a time of weakness. At the time of
this action, he was already a widower. He immediately felt guilt and shame for
taking that step and left the website never to return and never to take further
action. And, it seems that he has been tormented by guilt for this act ever
since. I understand that as Christian Ministers we need to hold to a higher
level of moral action than others around us – we are to set the example. And I
agree that we should pay a price for our sins, but I would argue that R. C.
Sproul Jr. has already paid the price. He calls the Ashley Madison hack a
blessing for people like him. Because of the hack he had to come clean with his
board, his denomination, and now with the world – something that I am sure was
not easy for him to do. But the other side of this reality is that really all
he did was be tempted. Yes, he made that first step which was wrong, but his
relationship with his God was strong enough to stop him from making a second
step. I wonder how many of his Board members have done worse and have never
admitted their indiscretion and have never been caught. None of us are perfect.
Personally, I would much rather deal with a religious leader that understands that,
has experienced temptation and has admitted to his sins then one who refuses to
make that step and makes excuses for the things that he has done. Sproul has
refused to do that. He is at fault and he offers no excuse for his behavior.
And that I admire.
The Bible
has often been called barbaric and cruel for its assertion of justice through
the Law of Talion - or an eye for an eye. Talion simply mean retaliation, and
what we sometimes lose sight of is that the premise of an “eye for an eye” this
is really just about retaliation. It is a limitation of the retaliation that the
one who has been harmed can seek. As a race, we always want more from
retaliation then what the original act cost us. We want to penalize the person
who hurt us. It would be very easy to lose an eye because of someone else’s
carelessness and want to take both of theirs. A quick trip through the news
seems to constantly reveal to us people who were insulted and killed the person
to attain their revenge. But the Law of Talion places restrictions on how we
can retaliate before we are guilty of breaking the law ourselves. It establishes
the line in the law that we dare not cross.
As
Christians, we have left the Law of Talion behind. One of the pieces of advice
that I often give to young couples is that they should “forgive more than they
need to be forgiven.” We believe in Grace and in love. But the law of Talion
never insisted that we must take this level of revenge, it only stated that we
could not go beyond that level of vengeance when seeking justice for the wrong
that has been done to us. Even the Law of Talion allowed for grace.
The
situation of R. C. Sproul, Jr. seems to cry out for grace and love. It cries
out for the forgiveness that was offered us on the cross of Christ. It is
forgiveness that every one of us needs. And maybe the lesson that Ligonier
Ministries and the rest of us need to learn is that none of us are perfect –
and we all stand in need of God’s grace.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:
Leviticus 25
"It cries out for the forgiveness that was offered us on the cross of Christ. It is forgiveness that every one of us needs." Obviously we all need that. But how does one receive forgiveness of sin absent confession and repentance? We don't, and therein lies the problem for RC Sproul Jr whose "confession" was nothing but damage control and "repentance" was a sham. His "suspension" from Ligonier Ministries was a golden parachute, a paid vacation -- he was suspended with full pay.
ReplyDeleteI can't help believe Sproul has some very wrong sexual proclivities and this may be confirmed by recent revelations that Sproul covered up the sexual predations of a serial pedophile in his church, Steven Sitler. This is the same Sitler that molested many children in Doug Wilson's church in Moscow Idaho. Normal Christian men are totally outraged by pedophiles molesting children in their midst. Something is seriously wrong with those who aren't outraged.