TRAGEDY OR SIN?

Once again, this week, I have been reminded of the ugliness of sin. We learned on Monday of the New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s involvement with a prostitution ring. The news channels are only too happy to report all the lurid and intimate details of Mr. Spitzer’s actions. As more facts are revealed, it seems that this had been a habit of Governor Spitzer for at least 10 years. This was not a “moment of weakness” or an action brought on by the stress of his job but an extensive involvement that continued during his crusade as Attorney General against such corruption. Clearly a man who understood all the inner workings of prostitution rings and used that knowledge to satisfy his own hedonistic tendencies.

While watching the breaking story, I was struck by the choice of words used to describe the reporters’ view of the actions. Words echoed by all the networks and cable news channels over and over until they became a mantra picked up by political allies and foes, pundits and the man on the street. His elicit activities were described as a “Personal and Political Tragedy.” It disturbs me tremendously that such corruption from governmental leaders is downplayed to a tragedy. Although the dictionary meaning of the word tragedy would apply in this circumstance, it tends to absolve the perpetrator of his responsibility and bring the crime down to just an unfortunate set of events.

Alan M. Dershowitz stated, “It’s no big deal. So what a married man goes to a prostitute.” This famous attorney also wrote a book called Rights from Wrongs: A Secular Theory of the Origins of Rights. Rights, he argues, do not come from God, nature, logic, or law alone. They arise out of particular experiences with injustice. His book also states that rights are too important to be left only to theological discourse. I’m sure Mr. Dershowitz believes that because of Mr. Spitzer’s previous experience bringing down such corruption, it was his “right” to sample such delights for himself.

A New York City resident made the observation, “So, a man goes to a prostitute, the Governor’s political maneuverings were more of a crime and a sin.” Some said they thought prostitution should not be illegal anyway, it is our “right” to sell our bodies, they belong to us. Government can legalize anything that will pass congress. Legalizing an action only makes it allowed not moral. Finally, Greta Van Susteren on Fox News had the courage to say “This is not a personal tragedy.” Her statement was, “This is a very smart man who knew exactly what he was doing and I have very little sympathy for him.” I agree with Greta, let’s call it what it is, Moral Failure or better yet, SIN.

If any of you remember the sitcom Happy Days, the Fonz had trouble with one word when describing himself. He just couldn’t make his mouth say the word ‘wrong.” No matter how hard he tried, his tongue would freeze and his lips would not cooperate. Sin has become that word. We will use words like mistake, tragedy, slip up, lapse or error in judgment, or any other phrase to prevent our mouths from forming the word Sin. We are afraid if we use the word sin to describe someone’s actions, that same word might be used against us.

Sin is ugly, it is selfish and devastating. Sin is not victimless and just a personal incidence. The tragedy in this whole sordid episode is not the action but the consequence to the action. It is a tragedy that another person has allowed Satan to deceive them into throwing away reputation and position for a moment’s pleasure. It is a tragedy that sin has destroyed another family. It is a tragedy that a wife will never regain the trust in a husband that she once enjoyed. It is a tragedy that a father will never again achieve hero status in the eyes of his three daughters. It is a tragedy that these same daughters will carry a corrupt view of men the rest of their lives. It is a tragedy that a nation has become so used to human failure that we say “So what” in the face of sin.

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. There is not one of us that is immune to sin. We must be on constant watch and stay full of the Holy Ghost. It is only through the power of Jesus Christ and His shed blood that our story will not become a tragedy.