We are Not Immune to Sin

I typically stay away from controversial subjects, the Duggar issue included. But there are thoughts burning in my heart that I can no longer stay quiet about.

The devil is having a heyday right now, he has exposed skeletons, turned Christians on each other and proven once again that we are all fallen, sin-prone beings. Even though we are saved, and live in the spirit, our spirit dwells in a very human body.

And that, brings me to this:

My heart hurts for those involved in the Duggar situation. It hurts for the victims, it hurts for the parents, and yes, it hurts for the sinner. What happened was wrong. There is no doubt about it, but instead of pointing fingers and laying blame, I challenge you join me in looking in the mirror for just one moment.

We are Not Immune to Sin. Becoming a christian does not mean we are suddenly immune to sin, neither does it mean we will not be tempted. Instead, being a christian means we are given power over sin in Christ Jesus.

For years, (long before we started a family) I prayed that our children would be safe from sexual molestation. I prayed that they would not be defiled. I prayed that God would help me as a parent to protect them and keep them safe.

Never once did I think to pray that they would not become the molester. Have you? We are not immune to sin. Our children are of the same fallen race as we are, and they are even more susceptible to the Devil’s wiles because of their youth and inexperience.

I’m pretty sure none of us expect our children to be the “bad guys”. Have we not spent their entire lives protecting them from evil?

Let me make this clear. No one is exempt from temptation. Not us, and certainly not our children.

I for one, am changing my prayer just a little. I am praying that God will protect them from molestation, but I’m also praying that God will help keep their hearts and minds pure. That I will be aware of the struggles that my children are experiencing and be equipped to guide them on the right path.

Many are blaming the parents and saying they handled things incorrectly, and perhaps they did. But before you judge them too harshly, I want you to do this.

Look at your children. The children you carried under your heart for 9+ months. The ones you suffered through great agony to bring into the world. Or maybe you carried them in your heart for months and even years before bringing them home.

These are your children, the ones you would lay down your life for.

Now imagine that one of your younger children comes to you with the information that an older sibling had inappropriately touched them. What would you do? What would you do?

I think we would all agree that we would take whatever measures necessary to protect the younger ones. But if you can claim without blinking an eye that you would turn your child straight over to the police, then you are either lying through your teeth, or you don’t have children.

That isn’t an easy question to answer.

I pray I am never in that situation, and I pray the same for you. In the meantime I ask this. Stop throwing stones. Instead of pointing out everything they did wrong, look at yourself and say, “what could I do better to prevent that?”.

The devil likes to get us stirred up about things outside our homes, so he can sneak in and destroy the inside. Dear parents, please be on guard. Don’t get so caught up in what others are doing wrong, that you miss what is happening right under your own noses.

We are not immune to sin, and neither are our children. Only by the power of God can we overcome temptation and it’s up to us to pray that power for our children until they are of an age of understanding, and even then we should continue praying for them.