Anthony Weiner, Without Excuse

By: American Decency Staff

By Lisa Van Houten Bill Clinton.  John Edwards.  Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mark Sanford.  Eliot Spitzer. Christopher Lee.  And now Anthony Weiner. The trail of politicians involved in sexual misconduct and “indiscretionsâ€Â is long and sordid, reaching across party lines and affiliations.  The latest, of course, is New York Representative Anthony Weiner who, after very public bald-faced lies to the contrary, has finally admitted to sending lewd pictures of his genitalia to young women he followed on Twitter. This latest scandal has led many to ask why?  What would compel an intelligent, savvy politician to be so stupid?  Why would a man married less than a year who, it has now been revealed, is expecting a child with his bride, engage in such illicit behavior risking not only his aspiring political career, but also his marriage and family? I have seen several news articles attempting to explain it away.  Some have claimed these men have narcissistic tendencies and personality traits that lead them to take risks.  A recent article in the Detroit Free Press quoted a couple of psychology experts who tried to explain these adulterous acts this way: …In a Los Angeles Times essay last month, Frank Farley, a psychology professor at Temple University, laid out his case that these politicians are type T personalities who thrive on uncertainty and risk, and there is evidence to back that up. Politicians excel at public speaking, often mentioned as a common fear of most people. They also stake their careers on elections, seldom live on a 9-5 schedule and have little semblance of family life. Add that they are surrounded by admirers who believe in their message, and the opportunity to take such a risk seems easy — though Farley said many type T's are so confident, they don't see the risks. Stanley Renshon, an expert on political psychology at the City University of New York, sees politicians' philandering as "an occupational hazard of people in power" who identify themselves and their beliefs with what they see as being best for the nation. … Next thing you’ll know instead of an insanity defense, we’ll have the “I’m a politician, I can’t help myselfâ€Â defense.  It was my “type T personalityâ€Â that made me do it.  With all due respect to these and other so-called experts in the human psyche, what led Rep. Weiner to engage in such lewd behavior is what led Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and Adam to follow suit.  It’s what led King David to commit adultery with Bathsheba and think he could cover up his own scandal with murder.  SIN. It’s not a personality trait, but a trait of the human condition.  Soul-corrupting sin.  And sadly, it’s not just high profile politicians engaging in such behavior.  The proliferation of sexual sin has spread throughout our culture ensnaring millions and crossing not only the political aisle, but the church aisle as well.  See our email https://americandecency.org/archives/pornography-as-heroin/ for statistics that will shock and sadden you. However, just as we can’t use a personality trait to rationalize sin, we also cannot blame it on our culture or the easy accessibility of pornography.  For engrained upon the heart of each person – including you and me and Rep. Weiner – is the law of God.  Romans 1 makes that abundantly clear. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools, … Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. … And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.â€Â (Romans 1:18-22, 24,25,28) So we, and Anthony Weiner, are without excuse. And while many men and women suppress the knowledge of the Law of God and so become fools with deadened consciences and darkened hearts, a poll on the Fox News website gave evidence that we humans do know right from wrong.  The polling question was this:  Rep. Anthony Weiner admitted Monday that he sent a lewd Twitter photo to several women. The married New York Democrat also acknowledged other sexually explicit phone and online conversations. While Weiner insists he never engaged in physical sexual contact with any of the women, in our digital age do you think a married person sexting or participating in virtual sex is a marital cheat? The polling options were these:

1. Maybe. There's an intimate, emotional attachment even if no sex took place.

1. Yes.  Sex is sex, even if it’s virtual.

1. No. Sex is not sex without physical contact.

Of more 65,000 responses, over 51,000 (73%) stated, “Yesâ€Â it was a form of adultery and more than 17% chose “maybe.â€Â   Evidence that even though we are all prone to sin, Christ’s teaching from Matthew 5:28 is written upon our consciences. “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.â€Â So while we shake our heads over such disgusting acts as those engaged in by Representative Weiner, and as we warn of the increased temptation brought by the proliferation of Internet pornography and social media, we should also remind ourselves of how easily we each could fall if we don’t maintain a close walk with God.  Representative Weiner’s only hope is the only hope for each of us. We need Jesus, the Savior! ========================================================== In this world you’re surrounded by sexual images that open the door to temptation. They’re everywhere – on TV, billboards, magazines, music, the internet–and so easy to access that it sometimes feels impossible to escape their clutches. Yet God expects his children to be sexually pure. So how can you survive the relentless battle against temptation? Here’s powerful ammunition. Arm yourself with this resource to help you and/or your loved ones guard against the temptation of pornography.  Go to our website to order the powerful DVD “Every Young Man’s Battle.â€ÂÂ Â  Order here:  http://secure4.afo.net/ada/store2/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=52 ========================================================== Your support is important to our ability to make a difference. Donate online at: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/donate.php American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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