Now that Hillary Clinton has publicly announced her intention to stand as a Democratic presidential candidate, many political pundits would dive into her chances.
Of some relevance in the quizzing process by party bosses could be the baggage that her husband carried, while president, by his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
While Mr. Clinton’s fall from grace seemed sudden, it was perhaps developed over time.
The whole White House situation was a tremendous embarrassment for then-President Clinton.
He was later suspected of perjury, for denying the details and extent of the relationship, and became only the second president to be impeached.
At a cost of millions of dollars, he was investigated and tried. Though he was ultimately acquitted of the charges, the whole scandal tarnished his reputation, and possibly had adverse effects later on vice-president Al Gore’s failed presidential run.
Adultery is the breaking of the Seventh commandment and as such, it is sin in God’s sight.
We don’t hear a lot about sin these days. This does not mean it has diminished or ceased to exist as the transgression of God’s holy law. It’s just that we don’t hear the word much.
I am not suggesting we should focus on guilt and condemnation. Even the biblical teaching about sad consequences of sinning should be presented in the context of God’s love.
We should warn people heading for hell only with tears in our eyes.
We have tried to minimize sin by giving it new names: “Fornication” has been replaced by “making love” or “having fun.” Adultery is now reclassified as “fling” or “affair.”
But do we pause to see sin to be the serious matter it is in the eyes of God?
Sin is rebellion. It breaks relationships and fellowship with God and man.
Sin mars and scars the creative beauty of God that He intended for us to enjoy. Sin is bad and tragic. As such, we should hate sin and abhor evil.
There has been a rapid change of climate in the way adultery is viewed in our time.
Those who commit adultery are no longer considered to be in any way morally bankrupt.
There is a sense that we are entitled to a good life, that “we only go around once,” that life is hard and that we should grab all the gusto we can get before kicking the bucket.
Some think that the Bible is anti-sex. This is a warped view.
The Bible prohibits sexual relationships outside marriage but celebrates God’s good gift within marriage between a husband and a wife.
Sex is more than a physical thing. It binds two people into a close psychological and spiritual unity.
By prohibiting extramarital sex, God has protected our most intimate human relationship.
Marriage relationships and our relationship with God are exclusive relationships.
We can have only one God, as we can have only one spouse in one’s lifetime. In the Bible, a broken relationship with God is compared to a broken marriage.
The first two commandments and the Seventh Commandment have a special relationship.
Idolatry – worshipping any god other than the Lord God – is spiritual adultery.
It is not surprising that, in the context of the Second Commandment, God describes Himself as a “jealous God.”
In the same way, when people break the Seventh Commandment, they sin against God and are also breaking the first two commandments.
God wants the best for His people and He knows we don’t always understand what that is. Sin hasn’t changed regardless of our euphemisms.
The consequences of sin have not changed in spite of our accommodating attitude. Let’s not rationalize or justify our failures.
Let’s be honest enough to acknowledge the truth, courageous enough to face the facts, and spiritually tender to repent.
If we pretend we are righteous when our hearts are not pure, we condemn ourselves, but if we confess our sin, God forgives us.
The Gospels affirm that, even in most high-profile public celebrity cases, redemption is possible.
King David in the Old Testament is often cited as an example in this regard.
Divine forgiveness does not mean the consequences of betrayal would immediately go away. David was forgiven, but it cost the life of his infant son.
Finally, it is possible to withstand the subtle sexual temptations that people in high places in society face.
Joseph, in the court of Pharaoh, encourages us to believe that sexual temptations can be overcome.
God knows what is best and what is best is that sex be reserved within marriage – the relationship of an exclusive commitment.
Narayan Mitra is the pastor of Merritt Baptist Church.
