Accusations of engaging in child sex have recently been made against some very high profile Australian and American men, some living, some dead – and some Christians! Not a few Christians are shocked to discover this. “Is this true?” they ask. “This is shocking!” My response: It is shocking if it’s true; but who knows if it is, or not? What is true, and perhaps shocking for many: Christians and Christianity are not only coming under attack from Atheists, Marxists, Communists and Socialists, but also from men and women who say they too are Christians, the most effective among them being influential church leaders.
My advice to us then: Keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ; less surprises that way! Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always Psalm 105:4. Judas Iscariot was no surprise to Jesus when He was here and the spirit of Judas (treachery) has never been a surprise to Him throughout church history either. We like to think that everyone who names the name of Christ has departed from iniquity, but the Scriptures tell us that is not so. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor 2 Timothy 2:19-20. Too, should those child sex accusations against these men turn out to be accurate, then those living need our prayers rather than our judgments.
What about prayers for the dead? someone asks. No need. If they’re with the Lord they don’t need our prayers. If they’re not with Him, the prayers are wasted. Note: The names of the accused will not be mentioned here; to plant further seeds of distrust and judgment is most unwise. Innocent or guilty, to point the finger at others is to have three fingers pointing back at us. Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you Matthew 7:1-2. Our Prime Minister said recently, that as Minister for Immigration, he spent much time on his knees, in tears as he agonized over hard decisions. Leftist Christ-despisers called him a liar. Not wise.
Why not wise? Should they ever find themselves seeking support for something they did or said that was true, especially in a court of law, “Liar,” may very likely be measured back to them. They don’t believe that of course, but it’s important we Christians believe it. When we make a judgment, best we do so not from Mathew 7, but from John 7:24. Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. The difference? Righteous judgment doesn’t point the finger; it prays for, and if possible, seeks restoration for the offender, under the ministry and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest also you be tempted Galatians 6:1.
The 9th Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor Exodus 20:16. Quote: “Neither publicly in a court of judicature, by laying things to his charge that are false, and swearing to them, to his hurt and damage; nor privately, by whispering, tale bearing, backbiting, slandering, by telling lies of him, traducing his character by innuendos sly insinuations, and evil suggestions, whereby he may suffer in his character, credit, and reputation, and in his trade and business……” John Gill. (Underline mine). Take note my fellow Christian, if you are one constantly cursing and bad-mouthing US President Trump. If things have been going wrong in your life over the past couple of years, perhaps that’s one reason why. Violating the 9th Commandment is unwise.
I think of the women (plus their many supporters) who violated that Commandment with their false accusations against US Judge (now Justice) Brett Kavanaugh. Look at the damage they did to his character, plus that of his family! No factual evidence at all, only misguided emotions, opinions, lies, gossip, slander and cold, political calculations. Once upon a time when common sense, honor, respect and dignity ruled, the charge was, “Innocent until proven guilty.” In his case there was no charge – but still an insane “verdict” of, “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!” You don’t think that is not going be measured back to them? It will be; it has already started. The fact that there may be no observable evidence of this thus far is meaningless.
Fortunately for Justice Kavanaugh, the high publicity triggered prayer from Christians all around the world. But where does an equally unjustly accused and innocent man go who is not a Christian, who gets little publicity and no support – especially no prayer support? How does he defend himself? He might sue for defamation and win the case, but will that restore his reputation – and his job if he loses it? Will it restore his marriage if that should collapse? Possibly not. The “guilty” stain upon him will be very difficult to wash away. Again, the women who falsely accuse will have it measured back to them also. As the sayings go, “Harm done, harm come.” “Fasten a chain around the neck of a person and the other end will fasten itself around you.”
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape Proverbs 19:5. Liars and slanderers would be surprised if they realized just how much trouble and worry they bring upon themselves as a result of that habitual practice. Chronic sicknesses, loss of faculties, terminal diseases and early graves for many. And for the unrepentant among them: A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will perish Proverbs 19:9. Once again for the unrepentant: All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone Revelation 21:8. This it can be guaranteed: there will be more liars and slanderers ending up in that eternal lake than there ever will be child sex offenders, as vile and debauched as they are.
Liars and slanderers have no regard for law, whether it be God’s or a nation’s. And when Christians make themselves willing to compromise both, what else is there to be expected from non-Christians? If living according to truth and speaking up for it is not our primary practice it is never going to be their primary practice. No wonder Jesus said of the last days, “lawlessness will abound and the love of many will grow cold Matthew 24:12. When love goes out the door, don’t expect truth to hang around! That’s what’s happening in the institutionalized church system. Doctrinal truth is being tampered with, much of it being downright denied, resulting in now, the elevation of a very attractive but false Jesus, just as the apostle Paul predicted in 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
God said similar of Old Testament Israel. An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love it so. But what will you do in the end? Jeremiah 5:30. Quote: “The people are perfectly satisfied with this state of things, because they are permitted to continue in their sins without reproof or restraint. The prophets and the priests united to deceive and ruin the people. The prophets gave out false predictions; by their means the priests got the government of the people into their own hands; and so infatuated were the people that they willingly abandoned themselves to those blind guides, and would not hearken to the voice of any reformer.” – Albert Barnes.
As Bible Christians, I believe it wise if we individually prepare for violations of the 9th Commandment against us – false accusations, lies and slander etc. Bring the possibility of it before God in prayer at least. If it doesn’t happen, praise the Lord and all glory to Him; but if it does, then we will know He stands firmly with us. For some, it could be He is the only One who does stand with us, at least in the immediate sense. God always has His remnant prayer intercessors world-wide, but they may not be in our midst at that time. That is when we’ll need to be totally certain of the Lord’s promise: Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you Deuteronomy 31:6.
So again my advice to us: Keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ; less surprises that way! Avoid the temptation to put any man or woman on a pedestal, Christian or non-Christian. Let God take care of the child sex accusations referred to at the beginning of this post; let God be their Judge. The falsely accused living, will be vindicated in His time. The falsely accused dead, have already been vindicated. The rightly accused, both living and dead will be judged in His time. I pray that the living wake up and turn to Christ before it’s too late. For the rest of us, hold firmly this truth: Violating the 9th Commandment is unwise. “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the LORD Isaiah 54:17.