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Lead us Not into Temptation
By Al
Ruechel | 04-24-02
I'm not a theologian! Like most
people, I've tried to work out my faith with a healthy dose of fear
and trepidation and humility. When catastrophic events come along
that seem to defy the character of a loving God that I serve I don't
run for cover. Instead, I'm driven back into my prayer closet on my
knees marveling that God doesn't send another flood to start all
over again. This sex scandal stuff makes me just sick.
Years ago, when I was a camp
counselor, our pastor had a very frank conversation with all the
male staff members. He warned us never to allow our hormones to get
the best of us, no matter how well intentioned we might be. He said
the sexual drive is so closely akin to the need to be loved that it
can easily be used by the devil to destroy our lives and the lives
of our campers. To protect us and the camp and the campers we had a
few simple rules. If we ever were moved to counsel a camper
one-on-one we needed to make sure we were in full view of another
counselor. Most of our counseling was done in a big room in small
groups. Guy counselors generally didn't counsel girl campers
one-on-one unless there was a female counselor present. We didn't
even think about the possibility of anyone being guy so that part of
the equation didn't exist.
Those rules saved us from temptation
so many times I can't even begin to count. As a guy counselor and
one of the leaders of the camp I had literally dozens of
opportunities where I could have taken advantage of some young
camper. I was 19 at the time. Those teen girls were falling all over
the male staff, and I mean that both literally and figuratively.
Some of those 16-year-olds we working overtime to try and get our
engines running. They would even make up stories just to get a
chance to sit down with a guy counselor hoping for some kind of
physical reaction. Looking back it was really dangerous stuff!
I always felt a bit skittish on the
last big chapel service at camp because there was always a lot of
crying and hugging and laughter from kids who had a tremendous
encounter with God that week. Teen girls and guys would line up 20
deep just waiting for a chance to hug their favorite counselor good
bye. Inevitably, there would be a few kids you'd have to remind,
face to face, that this love we all felt wasn't about romance or
sexual fantasy or weakness or strength. This was a taste of what God
promises to all of his children that obey His commands and live
according to His grace and mercy. Not all the teen girls took that
message to heart. I remember one gal in particular who grabbed me in
a bear hug and tried to plant a juicy kiss on the mouth. In some
cases they would writing you for months until they finally figured
it out, or until you'd have to write the local youth pastor and let
him know these girls had developed very unhealthy crushes.
Call it grace again. Over those six
summers the staff and thousands of campers developed incredible
Christ-centered relationships that continue to flourish some 30
years later with no reports of any inappropriate behavior. For
whatever reason, we were not led into temptation! Hum! Maybe God
answered our prayers.
I mention this for two reasons. The
first is that summer camps are coming up and parents need to be
vigilant. Before sending your kids to a religious camp or any youth
camp make sure you know their rules for dealing with
camper-counselor interaction. If they don't have some kind of policy
that prevents or at least monitors one-on-one encounters with
counselors you need to demand it. In my book, any touching, apart
from a brotherly hug is out! If they don't have a policy that
strictly prohibits overt sexual behavior among campers you need to
demand it. If they don't have an open campus that allows parents to
visit and observe anytime 24-hours a day you need to demand it. If
they don't have full background checks on all the staff don't send
your child.
The second reason I've brought this
up is because of the sex scandal in the Catholic Church. Let's face
it. It's not just the Catholic Church but any adult leaders in a
situation where young, vulnerable children or teenagers are looking
for answers or support from authority figures. Sexual abuse happens
with teachers, with coaches, with neighbors, in families, any place
where people can interact. It surprises us when it's in the church
because we think these people should know better. Society may be
struggle at times with the roles of men and women and children but
not God.
Does God warns us about sexual
misconduct? You bet. Consider Sodom and Gomorrah as you example!
Does he warn us about lust and coveting things that don't belong to
us? Sure He does! Even the thought of lusting is as if you have
committed the sin in person. That's as absolute as you can get!
But when you are the leader and in
power and have the ability to control those around you, and everyone
is afraid to question your authority, the temptation is too great
for some. Leading us not into temptation carries the weight and
responsibility of yielding your will and your desires to God's law,
not your own. Only a sick mind can justify the acts of these priests
and fallen religious leaders. They are sinners like all the rest of
us, but they are also lawbreakers and should be punished to the
fullest extent. Pedophilia isn't a bad habit; it's a felony crime.
So is covering up a crime regardless of any admonition you think the
church has to redeem its fallen brothers. God may be in the
restoration business, but David never regained the stature he once
possessed after he slept with Bethsheba. Moses never passed into the
Promised Land. And Jesus told the harlot to go and sin no more.
As male camp counselors we had lots
of opportunities to satisfy the flesh with very willing subjects. We
didn't because we had a set of practical rules of conduct that
weren't negotiable. We also didn't give in because as new Christians
we were all afraid God would jump out of the sky and fry us if we
brought harm to one of His children. Fear and trepidation and
humility are mighty powerful restraints in leading the believer away
from temptation.
Somewhere along the line some of
those priests and other leaders lost their fear of God. I have a
feeling that fear is returning to them now!
Al Ruechel, copyright 2002, all
rights reserved
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