Unfragmented Lives
Eliot Spitzer’s anticipated resignation came yesterday. Others have pointed out the compromises that riddled his career and the ways in which the media protected if not enabled him along the way. My comments here are directed to those who are trying to take something helpful away from this situation.
One modern myth seemingly embraced by everyone involved in politics these days is the division between public and private life. The idea is that what one does in one’s private life is of no concern and has no impact on what one does in public. Of course since this can’t be maintained for a minute – private, or personal values and actions impact everything someone does elsewhere – the inconsistencies inevitably show up. But even when something as egregious and illegal as an attorney general using prostitutes for years comes to light, this belief is maintained. Spitzer’s apology concerned a “a private matter.” He confessed violating his or any sense of right and wrong, but assured everyone that the changes he accomplished through progressive politics would continue.
The irony is deep. Spitzer actually fought against prostitution as attorney general, all the while supporting and engaging in it, what, as merely a private individual? Does treason exist? In the post-Clinton era, it is actually possible to betray fundamental oaths and allegiances to family members, while on the job, and pretend that professional integrity and effectiveness was ever sound or can continue unhindered.
I write this on a church blog not in order to point out how corrupt people “out there” are. Bill Clinton, to my knowledge, is still a member of an evangelical church, and I don’t know Spitzer’s ecclesiastical affiliations but my guess is he is a member in good standing somewhere. The church at large embraces similar dichotomies, and our pulpits are filled with men who embrace this sort schizophrenia. Paul tells Titus that elders must have believing children not accused of debauchery or insubordination (Titus 1:6). If this were obeyed, how would the next generation of church leadership look? How many young men would aspire to the pastorate based on the integrity of their leaders?
If the church is to have any saltiness in the world, it must come from Christians living whole lives coram deo, before the face of God. Our private lives, for better or worse, direct, influence, color, and dominate our public ones. It might be possible for a someone to be privately crooked and professionally straight, but this is an exception and would still disqualify one from church office. God sees all of our actions, knows every motive, and hears all of our thoughts. Forgetting and denying this is the first step towards the insanity of rank hypocrisy and scandal.
The first step for anyone involved in compromise is frank and honest confession, taking responsibility for known sins and those unknown. The thief on the cross had no pride left nor opportunity to “redeem himself”, and so his utterly humble confession was gladly received. The days leading up to Good Friday is a time to remember that Jesus was broken that we might be made whole, and that, forgiven, we might live before him free, complete and unfragmented lives.