Stories like the ones about Russell Moore and the SBC never cease to blow my mind when I try to rationalize why the leaders of denominations and other institutions hesitate on or actively retard efforts to investigate claims of sexual assault. I hesitate to put forth the idea that there's some kind of conspiracy, but besides the fear of being found out for one's own behavior, what is there to lose by purging these people from your ranks? If anything, if you frame it properly, you're likely to be lauded as a hero and to have your popular image greatly amplified. Even if you didn't care about taking care of one's congregants, you could still be motivated to speak out and/or take the charges seriously if only for the fame and respect that would come along with being a firebrand prosecutor of sexual abusers. There's probably not a more hated—universally, anyways—group in America right now.
Sometimes people will say, "Oh, but this preacher is so respected, we can't have a scandal like this," and I actually cannot understand how that is supposed to be a defense. Respect is earned, and is not a permanent quality. While it is perfectly understandable why someone's heretofore upstanding and moral behavior would lead one to doubt the veracity of claims of sexual abuse etc., there is no reason why that previous reputation should be cited as a reason for arresting the progress of serious probes and investigations. Obviously exceptions abound, but in this case, the behavior of the SBC seems egregious. You'd think these people would realize the fire that they're playing with, what with race and sexual abuse and all. There is no better ammunition against Christians than these issues. It'd be nice to think that the people in charge of these denominations and churches were aware of the fact that their job is dealing with the eternal consequences of people's souls, but alas, there are no such illusions left to believe in the 21st century. I hope earthly justice comes around the block some day for the perpetrators. It'd be the least God could do.
Stories like the ones about Russell Moore and the SBC never cease to blow my mind when I try to rationalize why the leaders of denominations and other institutions hesitate on or actively retard efforts to investigate claims of sexual assault. I hesitate to put forth the idea that there's some kind of conspiracy, but besides the fear of being found out for one's own behavior, what is there to lose by purging these people from your ranks? If anything, if you frame it properly, you're likely to be lauded as a hero and to have your popular image greatly amplified. Even if you didn't care about taking care of one's congregants, you could still be motivated to speak out and/or take the charges seriously if only for the fame and respect that would come along with being a firebrand prosecutor of sexual abusers. There's probably not a more hated—universally, anyways—group in America right now.
Sometimes people will say, "Oh, but this preacher is so respected, we can't have a scandal like this," and I actually cannot understand how that is supposed to be a defense. Respect is earned, and is not a permanent quality. While it is perfectly understandable why someone's heretofore upstanding and moral behavior would lead one to doubt the veracity of claims of sexual abuse etc., there is no reason why that previous reputation should be cited as a reason for arresting the progress of serious probes and investigations. Obviously exceptions abound, but in this case, the behavior of the SBC seems egregious. You'd think these people would realize the fire that they're playing with, what with race and sexual abuse and all. There is no better ammunition against Christians than these issues. It'd be nice to think that the people in charge of these denominations and churches were aware of the fact that their job is dealing with the eternal consequences of people's souls, but alas, there are no such illusions left to believe in the 21st century. I hope earthly justice comes around the block some day for the perpetrators. It'd be the least God could do.