Lessons from the Anthony Weiner Scandal

Just when we think things can’t get any worse after the Arnold Schwarzenegger scandal, they do just that. A case in point is Congressman Anthony Weiner (NY), an incorrigible pervert who used social networking to establish long distance, on-line imaginary sex with several women. Concurrently, former senator and vice-presidential candidate John Edwards is under indictment for misuse of political campaign funds to stifle word of his “sexcapades” with a videographer and the resulting love child. Edwards may hold the record for marital deceit by convincing a friend to claim paternity of the child while his faithful wife was dying of cancer.

In both instances, the empty innocent pleas took similar paths. Both Edwards and Weiner at first said it didn’t happen, categorically denying their errant behavior. Then there were denials by Edwards that any money had been misappropriated and by Weiner that he had engaged in a cover-up. Both men eventually owned up and confessed their crimes against family, friends, society and the media. Stunningly, both loudly deny that any laws have been broken.

Evidently, immoral behavior minus technical illegality is a pathetic redeeming factor in today’s twisted secular thinking. Social forgiveness may be possible since the moral level has swirled to new depths in modern society, but their crimes reach to Heaven. Our culture has descended to the cellar of morality where a valid appeal to technical legality strikes a responsive chord. Such is the turpitude of mindless men cut adrift from biblical norms and guidelines. Not once have we heard that either man had broken God’s laws and had asked His forgiveness for these high crimes against a righteous God.

What spiritual lessons are in these dismal stories?

Satan and his brainchild, sin, are masters of deceit. Even true believers are warned, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb 3:13) We must keep in mind that “Satan fell in Heaven, Adam fell in Eden and Peter fell in Christ’s presence,” as I once heard. I also heard someone say, “The best saints need to be warned against the worst sins.” The warning sirens of subtle sinning are muted by the fraud of iniquity. Even someone as powerful and admired as King David could adulterously lust after Bathsheba, decoy his act by luring her war veteran husband home and later eliminate him in battle, and then appear horrified to hear his sinful biography couched in a prophet’s parable (II Samuel 12).

Regarding these brands of cover-up, Proverbs 28:13 decrees, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Even age is no immunization against folly. As someone once told me in commenting on an aging sinner, “There is no fool like an old fool.”

How could Weiner—a rising star in the Democratic Party, articulate spokesman for Obama policies and husband of a high profile aide to Hillary Clinton—be so dumb as to risk it all in public forums on Facebook and Twitter? It seems to be a mix of lust, heady political intoxication, fallen human nature and the extremely devious quality of sin. Weiner and Edwards may lose it all, not to crafty political foes but simple self-destruction.

In the men’s explanations, apologies and even repentance, there is a striking absence of admission of sin before a holy God. All sinning is ultimately against Almighty God as King David described his offense: “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight…” (Psalm 51:4). David’s social sins were against his family, himself, his society, Bathsheba, her military husband Uriah, his fellow solders in the field and against his country since his sin elicited foreign blasphemy.

But David knew his ultimate crime was against Heaven, and only God could cleanse that. He confessed and was forgiven as he wrote. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7). Hyssop was used to apply the blood of redemption (Ex. 12:22) and in cleansing the leper (Lev. 14:5).

Christ’s shed blood alone can set the sinner free from guilt and, ultimately, hell. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

The words of an old hymn remind us of all that the sinner really needs.

“I Need No Other Argument”
Lidie H. Edmunds, 1891

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He’ll never cast me out.

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior’s Name,
Salvation through His blood.

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.

Chorus:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Dave Virkler