When a Christian gets in trouble, you can count on his faith being noted prominently. This was the case with Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a successful politician who was considered to be presidential timber. Mr. Sanford has a wife and four young children but was smitten by an Argentine soul mate who stole his heart and possibly his brain, too.
After telling people he was off hiking on the Appalachian Trail, he instead took a trip to South America to cavort with his girlfriend. Caught as he got off the return flight from Buenos Aires, Sanford tearfully came clean in progressively more embarassing press conferences.
Around the same time, U.S. Senator John Ensign of Nevada admitted having an affair with his former campaign treasurer. She was also his best friend's wife. Ensign's parents made payments to her and her family totaling nearly $100,000 "out of concern for the well-being of long-time family friends." Ensign admitted the relationship after his ex-best friend started talking about it on Fox News.
These guys were forthright Christians who were on the front lines condemning others for their indulgences. But then they did the same things themselves. It's the blatant hypocrisy of people who profess one thing, point their fingers at others and then secretly live alternate lives that makes them juicy targets.
At least those who Sanford and Ensign had criticized weren't acting as moral authorities and judging others. They may not have been concerned with morality, but at least they weren't being hypocritical. In a crazy twist, the absence of hypocrisy almost makes them seem morally superior.
What now? They're both apparently planning to stay in office and they may well be able to. As Christians, they can be forgiven. But their standing as moral pillars and their ability to promote the Christian faith has evaporated. And the ridicule they brought upon themselves did their faith a great disservice.
Those in positions of responsibility are held to higher standards than others. This biblical principle was ignored by these leaders and they're justly paying a price for violating it.
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