On the walls of my office are several framed diplomas; seeing them always gives me satisfaction. I now have another piece of paper. “Certificate of Completion. This certifies that Dale Meyer completed the 2017 Preventing Sexual Misconduct (Title IX) course…. Certified by Concordia Seminary.” All Seminary employees are required to take that course. Course? A better description is on-line tutorial. I’m not going to frame that, but I will keep it as a reminder.
It comes at an ironic time, during the deluge of charges of sexual harassment. These aren’t charges of flirting; they’re brutish behaviors. Late seminary professor Martin Scharlemann said a pastor’s job is to interpret reality theologically. What’s going on?
The Law of God shows us our sins. If John 3:16 is “the gospel in a nutshell,” then Mark 7:21-23 is a nutshell of the Law. “From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
There have to be restraints on actions, even for sincere Christians. Although your sin is forgiven by God for Jesus’ sake, your heart is still dark with original sin. Unchecked it will show in sinful conducts. Attending church isn’t a fail-safe check on the evils deep in the darkness of our hearts. When Potiphar’s wife used her position to try and seduce young Joseph, he replied, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
She didn’t take the course, but I did. I have my certificate, but I did miss one test question. Best way to guard myself from greater error? Like Joseph, to live in the fear of God.
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