Living Richlee: Sandusky is One of Us
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Richard Lee is the Lead Pastor of Bethany Well Church in Fort Lee, NJ. The views expressed here are his own and not those of the church.
Monster. Pedophile. Deviant.
These are the words that are used to describe Jerry Sandusky after allegations of his sexually lewd behavior surfaced. Truly, this story, if corroborated, is troubling on so many levels.
And first let me say, that my heart and prayers go out to all of the children, their parents, their future wives and their future kids.
If the allegations are true (even Penn State's acting president called them 'victims' not 'alleged victims') then the hatred and vitriol that Sandusky faces seems justified. Perhaps the monikers of 'monster, pedophile & deviant' are deserved.
[Disclaimer: In my following comments, I do not mean to trivialize the gravity of these allegations. However, I do want to make a broader point that applies to us all.]
However, we tend to demonize and villainize those that have (what we perceive to be) egregious sins. And preying on an under-privileged minor seems to be near the top (bottom?) of that scale. But I think that tendency seems to belie a veiled comfort that we have in allowing us to focus on the sins of others and not on our own sins.
"I am not a pedophile, so I must be far better than Jerry Sandusky," we tell ourselves subconsciously.
By focusing on others, we fall prey to what I call "comparative righteousness". We are holy because so many other people are much more sinful than we are. But this subtle line of thinking ignores the Biblical teaching of the depravity of sin.
“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” ~ Romans 3:10-12
The truth of the matter is that we all deal with the problem of sin. And just because our sins are not as reprehensible as someone else's, that does not exonerate us from the punishment deserved for our own sins.
"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong." ~ Habakkuk 1:3
So, as the truth unfolds at Penn State—and I imagine that the worst is yet to surface—and you feel disgust and outrage over the atrocities perpetrated on those poor children...
... remember that God sees our sins with disgust and outrage as well. Reflect on what God must have needed to overcome in order to love us and die for us despite our sins. Respond too the love that he has for us by loving him and trusting him in return.
Nick Oliveira
3:40 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
Interesting take. I admire you for taking the time to analyze from a completely different angle.
William Mays
3:49 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
Yeah, and if God really exists I hope Sandusky burns in hell.
Richard j Lee
5:47 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
@Nick - Thanks
@Billy - I agree that if he did these things, then he does deserve to burn in hell. But so do I for my sins.
Tracy Mattei
10:14 am on Friday, November 18, 2011
I find solace that there is a hell he can burn in if he is a pedophile but I will leave the final judgement up to my maker. We all know that truth is not the always part of our justice system. Until then, I will protect, educate and watch our children to prevent them from being victims...........
carol simon
10:36 am on Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thank you Pastor Lee for your thoughts. I cannot think of any sin I have committed that is close to or comparable to the alleged sins of Sandusky. Some sins and sinners are not in the realm of most who live good decent lives who falter on occasion. Just as the random murder by black youth who heinously randomly killed my brother at Thanksgiving time a decade ago, there is no solace or retribution in a sin that takes a life. These boys,that were allegedly raped, perhaps accepted by others, will live with turmoil, confusion and scars that will effect the rest of their lives.
Some sins are indeed, bigger than others.
As a "reporter", teacher, working with children, I am obligated to report any signs of abuse and unfortunately I have had far too many occasions to do so. Institutions relay a mixed message and are more reluctant to report situations that warrant help. Those that sat on the sidelines, at Penn State, knowing the egregious criminal acts occurred and ignored the cries of innocent children have sinned along with the sinner.
I know I am imperfect but if there is a "God", and I have faith in a higher power, I feel sure that God will easily overcome any sins I have wronged upon myself or others as the totality of good will be reflected. Murder, rape, crimes and perpetration against innocent children provokes disgust and outrage from God and all decent human beings that are incomparable to the masses and cannot be easily overcome.
Howard L. Pearl
5:49 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011
Perhaps there are degrees of sinning, with pedophiles the epitime of deprivation. To try to relate our sins to those of Jerry Sandusky is perhaps stretching a point a bit too far. It might also be a poor choice on the basis of so many clergymen who have been accused and convicted of similar crimes.
Tom
6:38 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011
When a powerful man like Sandusky uses his power over kids for perverted acts he should suffer the ultimate fate, whatever that is.
Richard j Lee
7:57 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thank you all for your comments and opinions.
My post in no way condones what was done, but rather condemns it. My point was simply to bring up the fact that I have been condemned for my sins too. But God has loved me enough to die for the condemned.
s. schultz
12:19 pm on Monday, November 21, 2011
if there were an all-knowing, all-loving all-powerful god, things like this would never happen. it is an injustice to leave this man's punishment to occur after he has died.
abusing children is a crime for which punishment should be harsh & administered while the criminal is alive.
Tracy Mattei
1:53 pm on Monday, November 21, 2011
S. Schultz---- That place you refer to is heaven I think---until then, there is a little thing that creates horrific injustices and that is called the human will. We are not Gods.
And I agree, I think death is the easy way out--- criminals need to take their punishments.
ms. l. bat
7:54 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
if sandusky commited these horrific crimes. he should be put in jail for life. i pray for those victims who are innocent. when in jail other criminals will take care of him. get real he is a child molester and should not be walking the streets. to the state of penn. get with it. you are much too lax. hope fbi director freeh who is jersey man does the right thing . do not let this criminal get off easy l.b.e.r, n.j.