I have had a wide range of feelings since hearing about Josh Duggar's past. Most of all I have felt sorrow for the victims, including his sisters, and I have felt sorrow that once again there is the appearance of hypocrisy on the parts of high profile believers of Jesus.
It disturbs me that there is the appearance of a cover up by his parents first and then by a police officer, who has since gone to prison for child pornography. Actually, it is more than an appearance. The father readily admits that 12 years ago he walked in on a situation with a young girl - he doesn't say if it was his daughter or a guest. He and his wife then did what I think most parents would do - they tried to find help for their son while also protecting him. Unfortunately they did not seek out a professional counselor. Hearing that they have possibly used some Bill Gothard materials in the homeschooling of their children, I wonder if the daughters ever received professional counseling or if they were simple asked what they did to make their brother act that way (yes, Gothard taught that before being disgraced for his own sexual sins).
But this post is not meant to be a gossip column. The story got me thinking about grace and mercy.
Mike Huckabee may have torpedoed his chances to win the Presidency of the United States when he very vocally supported Josh and his family saying that young people simply make mistakes. What Josh did was more than a simple mistake. Even after he was caught, 9 months later he acted on his feelings again. The Governor is absolutely correct that if indeed Josh has truly changed, he is forgiven by God and has received grace and mercy both spiritually and in a physical sense. But the torpedo has launched because of the Governors past history in Arkansas with his son who allegedly hung a dog and also with serial rapist and murderer Wayne Dumond whom he pressured a parole board to release. Dumond received grace and mercy and was released from a life sentence in prison after which he went and raped and murdered two other ladies.
Which brings me back to grace and mercy.
I believe in both, but there is a fine line between the two and the line of punishment and discipline. Growing up, we were always taught that one can put a nail in the door for every sin that you commit. You can confess your sin and then take the nails out (grace and mercy), but if you are like me, there is now a door full of holes - the consequence of putting the nails in the door in the first place.
Grace and mercy are great, but there also has to be honesty. There has to be accountability. All around the internet I keep seeing the word "hypocrisy." To be honest, it does smell of hypocrisy. It does smell of a cheap grace. It comes across as though the Governor and the Duggars are making a very serious situation look like it's not what it really is. A child who is molesting another child is not simply making a mistake (or in this case at least 5 mistakes). And a child is not simply cured of those desires by renovating a home with another man. Five little girls don't simply move on as though nothing ever happened. And for all of these folks to be preaching "family values" while covering up the sins of the past, this is far from family values - yes, I can see why that smacks of hypocrisy and cheap grace in the eye of so many.
This is why we as believers need to learn to be more of a seasoning salt here in our country. We need to flow with honest grace and mercy. We need to stop trying to legislate morality and we simply need to live it in a genuine humbleness. We need to be open and honest about our own lives and show grace and mercy to others who do the same (or even if they don't!)
I feel that Christianity just got another black eye, they we gave another opportunity for folks to ridicule our faith. It's not enough to say that we are only human just like everyone else. Could we please stop doing that?
Parents, if you find that your child is molesting another, please get them professional, qualified help right away. There is an underlying problem that need to be addressed before they reach the age of "adulthood."
My heart is saddened for all involved. I hope that it will continue to motivate me to do my best at keeping sin on a very short leash and that I will be careful not to be hypocritical in any way. May I show grace and mercy towards all without discounting the gravity of what others may do wrong. And yes, may I stand by my friends when they are going through or have gone through deep waters. Except for the grace of God, I could or possibly would do the same as any other sojourner.
Blessings
David
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