WHEN DOES GRACE BECOME DISGRACE?
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009I have never watched the reality show “Jon and Kate” with all the struggles of rearing their eight siblings of twins and sextuplets. I grieve about the news that Jon and Kate are preparing to divorce for reasons unclear to the public. Let us suppose this couple has biblical and justifiable reasons to end their marriage as the tabloids have reported. How sad for the couple, the eight children, their extended families and the millions of American TV watchers who wanted to believe someone had gotten the family situation right. If you know about the pain of a separation and divorce you can feel for this family.
This family claims to be active members of an evangelical church and speak at churches about family issues. They are proof that anyone can fail in the most lucretive conditions. I would not want to add shame and guilt to anyone who stumbles and falls in the marriage relationship. My problem is this couple has been pretending all is well before church audiences and TV audiences for months. While we are concerned about any family in trouble, we need to also protect the name of Jesus Christ that we wear. My most serious concern for this situation is the name of Christ is dishonored through all the pretense this couple and anyone who claims to follow Christ and then a scandal erupts. I believe Christ deserves better. I believe in God’s grace for everyone of us sinners regardless of the sins we have repented of. Does not sincerity require to stop the acting and tell our listeners we do not need to be speaking so authoritatively for Christ when our lives are ready to collapse? God help us from making God’s grace become disgrace.