Responsibility and Forgiveness
by: Jon Crane

Saturday Ramblins, Vol. 1, No. 17 (September 5, 1998)

The President's recent public admission to an "inappropriate relationship" with a young woman who was not his wife, brings to mind two issues. First, there is the endless parade of public figures--politicians, film and TV stars, sports figures, etc.--who, when caught at something they were not supposed to be doing, take the moral low road crying, "I am not responsible."

In times where political or social expediency has replaced a moral imperative, it is like a person standing before a judge pleading nolo contendere (no contest). In many cases, the attitude is, "I didn't do nuttin' and if you let me go this time, I promise I'll never do it again." There is too strong a tendency to try to shift the blame away from our own actions (and their consequences) and place it on someone or something else.

As children, one of the first excuses we try with our parents or teachers is, He made me do it! We live in a time when no one wants to take responsibility for his or her own actions. Face it--we all make bad choices, we have all rushed into something without thinking, and there isn't a one of us who hasn't suffered from some deceitful behavior of our own. It's human.

Maturity, as I tried to pound into the heads of my daughters, is not arriving at a place where you will no longer make mistakes, but a willingness to accept them and, subsequently, the responsibility for them. We cannot blame others for our own rash, ill-advised or poor choices. It is a form of arrogance and pride. While other human weaknesses and sins stem from our human nature, pride is manufactured in hell and delivered straight to us by ol' Scratch, himself.

A seond thought that Mr. Clinton's behavior brought to mind is that of forgiveness. I've heard and read since that Monday night speech that the President didn't seem contrite enough to suit some people. To the best of my knowledge, there is only one Being who can see into the heart of a sinner and judge the level or sincerity of his contriteness. I am surely not that Being.

It is not our duty, or even our right, to contemplate forgiveness regarding the morality of Mr. Clinton's actions where his admitted lies and adultery are concerned. Moral judgement and forgiveness belong exclusively to God. The fact that the President misled the country on his affair and any civil or criminal liability for alleged perjury or possible obstruction of justice is within our purvey. But Scripture tells me I must forgive others their tresspasses as I would have my tresspasses forgiven. Forgiveness on those issues is no different than forgiveness when a friend betrays me. It is out of the moral arena and simply on a human level.

It is not my intention here to defend or excuse Mr. Clinton but to remind myself that judging what is in another man's heart is not within my power. I leave that up to God and try to forgive as He forgives me.

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