Faith Venture

Two major universities who are perhaps know more for football than academics among the general public are suffering through scandals right now. Each quickly (when the news became public) dumped successful football coaches–you know, those guys who bring millions of dollars into the institution.

Of course, I’m talking about Jim Tressel at Ohio State and Joe Paterno at Penn State. Both respected individuals until the scandals became public. Interestingly, it wasn’t what they did (although supervision of those under them was perhaps lacking), but it was what they didn’t do. They didn’t speak up when they saw or heard about wrong-doing. They chose to remain silent. They chose not to blemish their institutions and perhaps themselves publicly.

I imagine it was much the same in the Catholic Church where we’ve learned about many abuses and the fact that those in charge at some level chose to keep quiet.

Sometimes, in interpersonal relationships, it is better to maintain silence rather than hurt someone. But when the cases involve doing wrong, abusive or illegal things, silence is not golden. Jesus did not maintain silence confronting the religious leaders who were not following the path of God.

When another Christ-follower is off the path, we need not maintain silence but should gently correct them. But if the issue is serious, we should also tell authorities such that illegal activities are not condoned.

As we can see from these examples, maintaining silence only works in the short term. News eventually breaks out and then you are seen for what you are.

I recently heard a message on Psalm 73 and the story of Asaph. He was looking around at the people in his region and thought to himself something to the effect of, “I’ve been a loyal God-follower all my life, yet I look at those around me who lie, cheat and steal and who seem to prosper. What gives?”

We look around and see the same thing. There is a little of that attitude (don’t know about the God-follower thing) in the current Occupy movement sweeping the country. People are seeing those at the top of the wealth charts prospering, avoiding jail when caught, and seemingly having it all while sticking it to the little guy.

Asaph was worshiping God at his version of church when God spoke to him and told him that he was in God’s care for eternity, while those outside of God were destined to a lonely eternity without God. He changed his attitude.

We see things and wonder if ethics matter. I was preparing this message yesterday when I ran out of time and had to get to a meeting. So today at 6 am Nashville time, I’m at the airport waiting for my flight home. Listening to the eternal drone of CNN airport news, I heard the conclusion of the Joe Paterno case. Here is a well respected, successful college football coach with something like a 67 year career who just went down in flames. He “didn’t remember” that he was told about sexual abuse by one of his staff. He told an administrator but didn’t take further action or notify police. So he was just fired in the middle of the season. A tremendous blemish on what was a great public reputation.

Then I hear a candidate for President of the United States who evidently had some sort of sexual problem (amazing how sex seems to drive people to scandal). It was enough that several people were paid off. When confronted with the reports of his actions by his old accusers, he says “I don’t remember.” Don’t know what he really did, but this “I don’t remember” thing is obviously designed to circumvent facing up to the situation.

Do you have an “I don’t remember” past? You can deal with it with God. Do you see others prospering when they have some of those “I don’t remember” incidents? If you are with God, that’s all that matters. You’ll be with God in eternity. The others? Well, chances are they won’t.