Appearances

In Romans 14, Paul addresses issues surrounding personal convictions and provides guidance on
governing our action, even when there is not a clear Scriptural principle. We can read:
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

A key to walking in a manner to which God has called us is to be "convinced."  To possess conviction.  We are called to do all things to the glory of God - that means that we are to seek to please Him in all things.  There are some actions that are specifically mandated by Scripture, others are forbidden.  But, there are also those matters of personal preference, and we should be able to make sure that those actions in which we engage do not violate Biblical principles.

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Have you heard someone caught in a compromising situation respond by saying that "it's not how it
looks," or something to that effect? The Bible has something to say about avoiding that sort of situation, in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5:
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

We are in the midst of election season in the city of Montgomery, as the mayoral and city council seats are under consideration.  The 2020 Presidential campaign is essentially well underway.

And, in our neighboring state of Mississippi, there is an election for governor to replace Phil Bryant.  One of the candidates is named Robert Foster.  Foster had an opportunity for a reporter to spend a day with him, riding with him as he conducted his campaign.  He said no, unless another male reporter was included.  Why?  Because of his Christian convictions: he refuses to spend time alone with a woman who is not his wife.

It's called the "Billy Graham rule," and it has been implemented by others - Chuck Swindoll has spoken of it.  Vice-President Mike Pence has been excoriated for it.  And, now Foster is getting some pushback.

Now, this is a matter of personal preference, in keeping with the Scripture which says to avoid every appearance of evil.  People have made fun of Foster chiding him for not being able to control his desires; that's not the purpose.  Or, some have accused him of being demeaning toward the woman, as if she could not harness herself.  That's not the complete picture. 

Certainly, there is accountability in place when a man and woman, one of whom is married, is alone with a member of the opposite gender; it lessens the probability of either inappropriate behavior OR the accusation of inappropriate behavior.  And, considering people are apt to draw incorrect conclusions, it gives one less tool to those who would accuse someone of impropriety because of an appearance that something is occurring that is not.  To Foster, the observance of this "rule" shows honor to his wife.

The Capstone Report said this regarding the situation:

Attacks included a piece in the Washington Post and on cable networks.

Foster tweeted, “As I anticipated, the liberal left lost their minds over the fact I choose not to be alone with another woman. They can’t believe, that even in 2019, someone still values their relationship with their wife and upholds their Christian Faith. #msgov #mselex.”

Foster explained the decision to invoke the Billy Graham Rule of never being alone with a woman was decided in consultation with his wife before he started the campaign. He tweeted, “Before our decision to run, my wife and I made a commitment to follow the ‘Billy Graham Rule,’ which is to avoid any situation that may evoke suspicion or compromise of our marriage. I am sorry Ms. Campbell doesn’t share these views, but my decision was out of respect of my wife.”

"Ms. Campbell" is a reference to the reporter Larrison Campbell of Mississippi Today. Foster is a member of Hernando Baptist Church in Hernando, MS.

I don't know what the ideological background of Karol Markowicz of the New York Post is, but she makes a valid point about the current atmosphere in male-female relationships:

Beyond the religious-liberty implications, men’s reticence about being alone with women shouldn’t surprise anyone. The #MeToo movement of the last few years has brought a chorus of voices urging us to “believe all women” making assault or harassment allegations.

When “believe all women” is the party line, it’s only prudent for men to take themselves out of situations where they risk being accused of anything. #MeToo began with a serious mission of exposing powerful men who had sexually harassed, and in some cases assaulted, women and gotten away with it.

But thanks to “believe all women,” it spiraled to a place where accusations went unchecked and were instantly believed. Some Web sites maintain running lists of accused men, even if accusations are anonymous and/or largely uncorroborated.

You may not subscribe to the "Billy Graham Rule," but we can certainly be aware of the need to take steps to protect our reputation.  We can be determined to not engage in behavior or appearances of behavior that are inconsistent with our belief in Christ.

We also recognize that Christians, more than anyone else, should be devoted to preserving the dignity of women.  We should be ardent opponents of abuse and men should strive to always show women the respect they deserve.

Finally, we can make a concerted effort to practice our convictions.  In this case, there was a set of convictions in place, so that when the request came, it was a matter to acting in line with them.  If we have a sense of how we might respond when a difficult situation presents itself, it will make us better equipped to reflect Godly character.