Victims of Sin

With the Ashley Madison leak making headlines on all news sites, there are plenty of articles to read as well as the public's response to them.  I've read through many of the reader's comments searching for Jesus and I can't seem to find Him.  Most of the comments are mocking the cheaters, telling them they get what they deserve, sneering at the Christian community, saying they are the largest demographic on this site which is somehow proving that Christians are hypocrites and sinners above all others.

Well, yeah, it's not a real shocker to see that Christians are sinners, just like everyone else.  But the honest Christians I know don't claim to be sin-free.  They only claim to love Jesus and hate a life of sin and strive for something better.  Even Paul knew what that felt like.  I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.  (Rom 7:15)

But that's beside the point.  The issue about getting what they deserve is what hits me the hardest.  Because the Jesus I know never told people that they'd get what they deserve.  Instead He said, I'll take what you deserve.  His statement is the foundation of grace.  So if these Christian cheaters remember anything about their Bible lessons, they will fall into the arms of Jesus and experience the all-consuming love and grace for which Jesus died.

I'm so saddened to see everyone laughing gleefully at all the destruction that this leak has caused.  They're so focused on making sure that sinners get what they deserve, calling them names, trying to convince the world that these individuals are not worthy of anything good.  They're so intent on destroying the person that they overlook the victims of this situation.  Their response is more focused on the cheater and not praying for those caught in the line of fire.  But the victims are not just the cheated spouses, they are also anyone who found themselves chained to the temptations of the enemy.  It's hard to see someone as a victim when it's their choices that are causing pain to others.  But if you take an honest look at the controversy of this world, you will see who the real villain is (ie, the devil) and understand that ALL victims are deserving of healing and restoration.

They are deserving of God's gift of healing because Jesus already did the time for their sins.  They are not deserving because of their choices and shortcomings.  In fact, if their restoration was dependent on their actions, they'd be deserving of some horrible things because of the mistakes they've made.

An angry person once told me that Christianity was the stupidest thing in the world.  The idea that people can sin and then simply ask God for forgiveness was ridiculous.  Sinners should do their time and suffer - for as long as necessary.  The disgruntled Jesus-hater mistakenly assumed that forgiveness was a ticket to sin freely.

But forgiveness doesn't grant us a free-ride to live sinfully.  The consequences of some sins have lasting repercussions that cannot be undone even when the sinner is covered in a garment of Jesus' righteousness.  But in spite of the brokenness, Jesus can always shine through.  And because of His extended forgiveness we can experience Him in a beautiful way.

Forgiveness grants us the courage to stand in the face of the enemy's attacks and claim the assurance that we are worthy of Jesus' sacrifice.

Forgiveness offers us an opportunity to shine Jesus' light to a hurting world.

Forgiveness helps us understand that it is not by our doing that we can enter the Kingdom of God, but by Jesus' grace.

Forgiveness draws us into eternal worship for the One that saved us from the clutches of eternal ruin.


It is the intent of the enemy to convince sinners that they are worthless and horrible beings, undeserving of Jesus' grace.  It is him who sets them up to fail and then tries to keep them bound so that they reject Jesus.  When a sinner rejects Jesus' grace, it's as if He is crucified all over again because He vividly remembers their face when He hung on the cross and His heart is broken by their acceptance of the enemy's lies.

I will make my statement again:  It is the devil that is trying to convince sinners that they are worthless and horrible beings, undeserving of Jesus' grace.

And every person who participates in this evil is doing the enemy's work.

Do not be glad when others are caught in sin.  Instead pray for them to see the light of Jesus' face and turn to Him for grace.  Proverbs says Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice. (24:17).

Please do your part in changing the attitudes of so many angry people.  And resolve to spread God's love and grace to a hurting world.  I love how God says it in Isaiah, "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord.  "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."  (Is 1:18)