What Do You Know, When Did You Know It, and What Will You Do?

A news story that has grown well outside the boundaries of the world of sports is swirling around the revered football program at Penn State, where a former coach is charged with molesting young boys over a long period of time.  The coach retired from his position with the team back in 1999, but continued to use the university's facilities for his youth football program.   There was allegedly an incident in 2002, when a graduate student claimed to see a locker room assault involving the coach and a young boy, and the coach was prohibited from holding his youth sports camps on campus after that point, but continued to work with young boys on a satellite campus through 2008.   A grand jury investigated, and the athletic director and a former senior VP have resigned, charged with lying to authorities and failing to report child endangerment.

Even in this morally relativistic culture, there is quite a bit of outrage over this incident.   Even legendary coach Joe Paterno is being criticized for not doing enough to stop this behavior - he reported it to his superior, but that's about all.

This incident has caused me to think out of the box about our role as Christians to speak up against injustice.   When we see something that is immoral, maybe even criminal, taking place, we have to examine what Scripture says about taking action.  Dillon Burroughs, who has been a guest on The Meeting House numerous times, writes in his "Activist Faith" blog on BeliefNet.com:

Find an area that makes you angry and then study it. Discover what is causing the problem and the underlying factors involved. As you do, you’ll find helpful, non-violent ways to change the situation. THEN act. Do something. The world is waiting for you to do as my friend Charles says: “Don’t watch the news. Do something that makes the news.”

Or as Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”

Hosea 10:12 tells us to "Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness ; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you." The prophet goes on to chastise God's people in verse 13:  "You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors..."

So, our attempt to triumph over injustice make take a variety of forms - it may be speaking out against mistreatment of the poor, or getting involved in a ministry that combats modern-day slavery.   On a personal note, when there is a instance where abuse or neglect is taking place, then God may call you to intervene.   And, when you see a brother or sister that is sinning, Matthew 18 directs us to go to that person directly and confront them, and if they do not repent, to take others with you.    The question becomes: where has God's Spirit shown me that injustice is taking place and how does He want me to respond Biblically?


"Helping Without Hurting" Seminar - Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery November 12th.