Digging Up Dirt

Addressing Sexual Scandal In The Messianic Movement - Part 1

1985 is the year I was born. It’s also the year allegations of abuse by Roman Catholic clergymen really came out in the open. Those allegations - once rumors perhaps, but now turned facts through the process of substantiation - persisted for nearly 20 years. They persisted until priests finally started feeling the weight of the convictions they should have felt decades ago, and they continue persisting today.

Some question the necessity of this dirt ever having been dug up. They question wonder whether these scandals were brought to light through solid facts or merely by sources of heresay. Was it common laymen with concerned intuition, or just a radical left running a rumor mill to remove religious leaders from coveted positions?

There will unfortunately always be those who cannot bring themselves to concede the inner moral depravity of man manifesting itself from outwardly pious religious individuals. That unfortunate reality aside, cases numbering in the thousands ultimately surfaced. Today, cases continue surfacing on a daily basis, with news agencies still printing headlines across the country like "500+ Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse Still Kept Secret By RCC", "Illinois AG Says Diocese Failed To Disclose Allegations Against Priests and Clergy", and "Church Faces New Sex Abuse Scandals in Michigan, Oregeon, Alaska".

The crux of the question is not whether sexual scandals exist, because we all know they do. The testimony of the witnesses is beyond alarming. What we have to come to grips with is the proper steps to exterminate this scourge of evil which is overtaking faith communities. Both institutionalized churches and home fellowships are supposed to be presenting the world with a righteous witness and a holy testimony. In far too many cases, however, they are both making a mockery of the Bible's teaching against sexual sin and moral depravity. Confronting this issue head-on in a Biblical manner is a necessity to remain true to the tenants which the Scriptures teach.



Should allegations of sexual abuse be kept silent, or should the defendants be called to account for their actions? Is it justice when not only the media, but the legal system of checks and balances is kept in the dark under the guise of “love covers a multitude of sins”? Can an honest person expect secrets about sexual misconduct to be adequately resolved through internal investigations by the very organizations who facilitated an environment where the abuses were perpetuated in the first place? Would not such a thing be the epitome of practicing partiality in judgement, and is that not something which the Torah explicitly prohibits?

David, in Psalm 10:2-11 writes, "In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the lusts of his heart; he blesses covetousness and reviles Yahweh. In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for Elohim. His ways are always prosperous; Your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all who oppose him and says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, “Elohim will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.”

We have a incredible problem on our hands, seeing that this scenario is happening, not just in inner-cities or back-allies, or brothels or massage parlors, but in churches and congregations and synogogues across the entire country.

Psalm 10:12-15 is a call for justice which I find very fitting for the time we are living in. It reads: Arise, Yahweh! Lift up your hand, O Elohim. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile Elohim? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account” But you, Elohim, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of those who have no one to defend them. Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.

Continue to Part 2 of Series >>