10 Tragic Consequences for a Public Figure’s Private Failure

The recent revelation of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford’s marital infidelities is tragic and it reveals something about the character of our country. Each political party has its “who’s who” of moral and ethical failures. Each scandal is quickly seized upon for political gain yet the greater story is found in matters of the heart. To be a public success but a private failure is to place image above character. One often neglects to measure the ripple affects of moral and ethical trespasses. The following are 10 tragic consequences for a public figure’s private failure:

1. The shattered heart of a spouse.

2. The vulnerability of the children.

3. The sense of betrayal in a staff.

4. The loss of moral authority.

This week President Obama called for a national conversation on responsible fatherhood and healthy families resulting in a renewed interest in the role of fathers and mentors. In 2000, Time magazine featured a cover story entitled, “The Hottest Jobs of the Future.”  The article prognosticated the imminent extinction of fatherhood with the provocative thought that “between in-vitro fertilization and cloning, dads could become dinosaurs.” As significant portions of children in America grow up without a father present, it is time to consider the role and value or fatherhood.

The following are 10 attributes of outstanding fathers:

1. Dads who find their role as being more than a breadwinner and disciplinarian.

2. Dads who listen with undivided attention.

3. Dads who have the courage to embrace responsibility and make long-term commitments.

4. Dads who validate their children with the precious commodities of time and genuine interest.

This past week a nation took notice when a San Diego couple was ordered to stop holding Bible studies in their home without a permit.  (The order was rescinded after public outrage.)  In an unrelated story, a U.S. Court in Pennsylvania ruled that the Bible could not be read during a show and tell time when a kindergartner brought what he described as his, “favorite book” to class.  Is it possible that a nation that has such a rich history of going to the Scriptures for guidance now is in the process of turning its back on the same?   The following are 10 thoughts on the role of the Bible in America:

1.      In a review of nearly 15,000 items written by our founding fathers, the Bible was the most quoted of any source material.

2.      George Washington and successive U.S. Presidents have been sworn into office placing their hands on the very book that is now unwelcome in many public schools.

3.      “The Bible is worth more than all other books which have ever been printed” — Patrick Henry

4.      “The Bible is the best book in the world” –  John Adams

Pastor Bill Shuler
Capital Life Church, Arlington, VA

As Brooke Shields laments not having lost her virginity earlier, and Mel Gibson admits to fathering a child with a woman other than his wife, a question begs to be asked…What happened to role models? There was a day when being a public personality carried with it a certain standard of conduct. But of late, the bar of behavior seems to have been set quite low.

The following could be 10 reasons why we are losing role models:

1. Honorable people are sometimes demonized for taking a stand for morality and values in the public arena.

2. High profile scandals in sports, politics and religion have jaded us.

3. Fewer dads are present in the home.

4. For so many of us, success in our culture has been defined as fame, fortune and power.

Pastor Bill Shuler
Capital Life Church, Arlington, VA

It has been said that all that is needed to destroy a people is to erase their history. The United States has a rich history steeped in faith yet faith in America has been under attack of late. It isn’t that we have outlawed faith, we have simply privatized it. Like a family secret, we have removed faith from public settings. The following are 10 fallacies about faith in America:

1. “Separation of Church and State” means people of faith should mute their convictions in the public forum.

2. We should stamp out all prejudices in America except for those pertaining to God, Jesus and the Bible.

3. One person’s offense or disagreement should be allowed to suppress the faith DNA of a nation.

4. National discourse should avoid all illusions to faith because the highest goal in America is not to offend.