The Standard May 24, 2025
Certain situations tend to bring out the best and the worst in human nature. When a natural disaster hits, throngs of individuals mobilize to send food, water, supplies, and money. Volunteer teams organize through churches, mission agencies and other non-profits. On the flip side, and on a much smaller scale, some shady repair people and looters show up to take advantage in the midst of the devastation.
On September 11, 2001 in the U.S. we experienced human-made tragedy of epic proportions. First responders that day and beyond sacrificed their own safety, with many paying the ultimate price. We saw so much good come out of so much evil. The country came together to help in an unusually cohesive way.
In the allegations of horrific abuse by men like Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and Sean “Diddy” Combs we see how enormous power can corrupt. Testimonies last week from alleged victims in the Combs case, as well as in the Weinstein retrial, reinforce our understanding of how manipulative and self-centered people can be. We might be alarmed by the number of assistants and other employees who not only enable abusive behavior but actively take part in making it happen. Procuring and grooming potential victims is just the beginning of the vicious cycle. In what could be seen as a culture of complicity, threats of being blacklisted in the music industry or Hollywood can lead to victims feeling like they must remain silent. In some cases, lawyers write up non-disclosure agreements and publicists suppress negative news, all in order to protect the image of high-profile clients.
To a lesser degree, we likely see some around us using their power as a license for acting without accountability. We hear of intimidation and folks being afraid of retaliation.
God’s design for human flourishing is far removed from powerful people using fear to silence accusations and even from a “swinger” lifestyle of consenting adults. The Apostle Paul writes of the way Christians should live with high regard for others and how God’s Spirit equips us to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, and more.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So, I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:13-25a
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