Josh Duggar is once again in the news. Our faces press against the glass to watch shark infested waters and the feeding frenzy the Ashley Madison scandal brings.
The blood bath of cyber-terrorism reminds us nothing sinful remains secret.
I admit, Josh Duggar made me angry yesterday. Then I stopped and remembered my faith is not in Josh Duggar. My faith is in Jesus Christ.
Angry thoughts turned to sad ones, How heartbreaking for the victims of the first scandal. The media-dust has barely settled. Now this. His wife, no doubt, is reeling.
But, you know what? I can’t stop thinking about his mother. I’m sure prayers and tears are the lion share of her days this week.
I, too, am a mother who loves Jesus. I believe His word and I try so very hard to pour my love for Him into my children. I want them to cling to Jesus. I don’t want them to make the mistakes I’ve made without Him in my life. I don’t want them to suffer from consequences of sinful choices like I have.
But, my four children have the same free will Mr. Duggar has and the same free will I have. Josh Duggar openly admits to being a hypocrite. I can’t imagine too many of us walk this earth who can’t make this same claim.
God’s word once again rings true. “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light” Luke 8:17
Jesus saves His harshest words for white-washed tombs and the such. As a Christian I know first-hand that hypocrisy has its consequences. I tell my children where I’ve made mistakes and where I’ve experienced the discipline of a God who loves me and is so very good. Personally, I’d rather my children say they have no faith at all than to say they follow Jesus and live oppositely.
My adult son can confirm my prayers being answered on a regular basis when he was growing up. Lord, show me where my children are getting involved in something that could harm them. Shed light on any sin. Reveal those things to me so I can help them before they’re harmed or harm someone else.
When does your child’s faith become their own?
Many biblical minded people believe the age of accountability exists around puberty when a son or daughter no longer leans on their parents for understanding but searches the truth on their own. While there is no exact age mentioned in scripture, God’s mercy and grace draw these boundaries.
We see children from solid families who fall far and hard. Ruth Bell Graham experienced heartache over Franklin, her prodigal. A mother’s heart beats for the child inside her and I believe her spiritual connection to her child is life-long. Prayers and tears are elements of the three-strand cord that ties her to God and her child.
There are consequences to misrepresenting the Living God. I shudder to remember my own misrepresentations. I learned early on, God won’t be mocked. There are consequences for talking one way and living another. But, Jesus doesn’t leave us there. While we watch the media and the world crucify the Duggar parents and especially Josh Dugger, his spiritual consequences (if he’s truly asked forgiveness) are not condemnation, they’re consequential correction from a loving God. There’s a big difference. This isn’t the end. If Ruth Bell Graham were here I’m sure she’d remind us Franklin Graham is quite an example there. God can make new the most sin-sick individual.
When Jesus comes to the place where people have gathered to stone a woman caught in adultery she was pardoned by a God who knew her heart. Some Bible scholars believe when Jesus stooped down to write on the ground that He wrote the names and personal sins of those in the crowd holding the stones. I’m so grateful I wasn’t in the crowd that day!
This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:6-11
The world finds twisted pleasure in accusing a sinner. When it comes to Josh Duggar, with each angry thought, with each self-righteous Tweet and pride-filled Facebook post we bend down and pick up stones –while his mother watches.
We ready ourselves to hurl them at her child and wonder why mothers suffer silently and fear reaching out for help when their own children sin and fail.
Yes, this man needs help. He is a soul-sick individual. Sin once again proves it’s aim is like buckshot and wounds many more than the one in the crosshairs. But let’s not forget with Jesus sin is not the end game. Jesus overcame the sin of the world–mine, yours, even Josh Duggars’.
TLC made a HUGE mistake.
Taking this show off the air while heartache rocks this family is not the last episode. The miracle has yet to play out. What God can do with a victim’s tragedy and how He mends a believing family is the greatest encouragement of all–and we’re going to miss it.
Enjoy your Saturday morning vanilla latte with Joanne. A weekly resource of amazing links to mom-stuff around the web. If you’re one of those adorable-younger-blog-savvy-moms who take artsy-fartsy pictures of your feet you’ll want to connect with her on Bloglovin & Feedly, too.
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