Violence is something that is possible in all of us, given the proper stimuli. We don’t want to think that we can be that way, but it is there. In the wake of the last presidential election, people who always espoused peace (except when playing certain video games) not only became violent, but felt completely justified. Violence is a part of our make-up. Perversion is also something possible in us all. We automatically reject that idea, but it is still there, still lurking, still waiting to reach out and snag us when we least expect it to surface. There are all manner of evilness and twistedness that pervade both our subconsciousness and consciousness. It is part of what makes up our free will. It is something given to us by Satan. As soon as we are old enough to process information, Satan begins to bombard us with things we should never see and never experience. If you think you are above these things, you are wrong. How many times have you seen someone have a stroke or perhaps a blow to the head and their whole personality changes? It is not something new that has come over them, but, rather, the filter that has kept those things under control has been removed.

We are seeing the sad sight now, in the media and politics and entertainment, of people who have never had to have those filters in place. They are the powerful and influential, the people others look up to, the people who have control. The scary thing is that these are the people who influence the vast majority of people in this country. We are seeing people who plan and finance movies and TV projects and report their version of news and who make and enact laws we have to live by, involved in the most despicable acts imaginable. Newscasters who have raked others over the coals for their alleged misdeeds, are now coming to the surface as perverts in their own right. It seems most Politicians feel their constituents are stupid rubes who will continue to vote for them as long as they keep the government gravy train on track. These are people who have no moral code. When an actor like Kirk Cameron comes along, a moral and upright Christian man, he is treated as someone who is to be ridiculed. When someone in the news media is a devout Christian, like Elisabeth Hasselbeck, they are rejected, their opinions mocked and, if possible, forced out. If a politician comes to the fore who puts God first, who has much of the Bible memorized (and all of the Constitution), someone like Ted Cruz, the good people a God fearing state like Indiana will opt for someone like Donald Trump, who mercilessly harangues such people.

This week we were treated to the fall of Matt Lauer. We still don’t know the fullness of the despicable acts he is guilty of, we just know that now we can’t get away from it. Sadly, people are tuning in to the news just to find out more about his actions. It is the emergence of perversion in us. We control it in ourselves, but with someone like Lauer, we can secretly enjoy living vicariously in his sewer. We help foster his actions. His salary is paid through advertising dollars and for his show there are millions of people watching, so there are advertisers lining up to put out big bucks. Because of this, someone like Matt Lauer can make $25,000,000 a year. Of course he thought that anything he did was fine. He had power. Ultimately, the people have control. People in entertainment and media are paid from our advertising dollars and people in politics are paid by our tax dollars.  

Sin and evil are rampant in this world today, and we let it happen. Most Christians don’t even pray about it or call it into question. We shudder when a church is shot up or when we hear of the things that are happening now, but the core reason for all of this seems to escape us. We Christians are the stewards of the Message on this earth. We Christians are responsible for getting that Message out. The Bible is pretty clear, how shall they hear if we don’t tell? We Christians have done little to combat Satan.

Bowe Bergdahl was a young American soldier who was captured Afghanistan in 2009. As it turned out, he deserted his post. He was held for five years. A video was released in which he criticized the US military. Now released, he is being accused of desertion, dereliction of duty and being a traitor. If all is true, he is a traitor. But what about those who turn their backs on Christ and the message? We are responsible for the Matt Lauers and the Harvey Weinsteins and the others who are dotting the landscape. We bare that burden. We look at our little safe shell of a small town or small community and we don’t see anything wrong. We rarely even pray about it.

I have never taken sexual advantage of anyone. Wouldn’t even know how. As far as I know, I have never taken advantage of anyone, certainly not knowingly. I have never watched Matt Lauer on TV. I am not sure I even knew he existed. But I am one of the ones responsible. I have lived in this little Spiritual cocoon, concerned only for those around me. I don’t regularly pray for those who hold such sway over the people. I bare responsibility. And so do you, if you have been like me.

2 Chronicles 7:14---If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Pretty clear. A very good place to start.