Josh Duggar – pray for him – pray for us

By: American Decency Staff

As I read the news accounts regarding Josh Duggars, I felt compelled to offer my perspective myself – a sinner in need of a Savior. Duggars, as most of you have read by now, resigned from his leadership role with the Family Research Council Action. 

FRC posted a statement today with these words:

Washington, D.C. – Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement regarding the resignation of Josh Duggar:

"Today Josh Duggar made the decision to resign his position as a result of previously unknown information becoming public concerning events that occurred during his teenage years.

"Josh believes that the situation will make it difficult for him to be effective in his current work.  We believe this is the best decision for Josh and his family at this time.  We will be praying for everyone involved," concluded Perkins.

My heart goes out to Josh and his family and to the FRC team.   As a fellow Christian, I felt compelled to share a few words regarding Christians as hypocrites.

I wasn’t raised as a church kid.  I went to church very sparingly growing up.  I went through a time at Michigan State University  – that I’m not proud of – but in many ways that time of godlessness helped set the stage for my recognizing that I had a need beyond myself. 

As a born again Christian, my eyes were wide open as I sought to discover what it meant to be a Christian, to understand what it meant to be a part of the body of Christ, the church. 

In retrospect, I see now that my expectation was way too high (and unbiblical).  I was very critical of the church and of Christians for a number of years.  I expected Christians to be like a few Christian men and women that I saw as godly: Donald E. Wildmon, James Dobson,  my in-laws (both now deceased).

What I didn’t see then, I now see in life and in what the Bible consistently and resplendently shows throughout  – that all men and women are marked by sin.  Each and every one has sinned; that when a person becomes saved they will have to fight fiercely against sin and temptation all the days of their life. 

Though Christ came to set us free from the burden of sin, being saved doesn’t equate to perfection.  As Christians, we are to be holy as He is Holy (I Peter 1:15,16), but not ONE human being (other than Christ) will reach perfection this side of Heaven.

Yet, in saying that the Bible also speaks about how God uses trials and tribulations to bend and shape us, to conform us to His image. 

God works in the Christian bringing tangible evidences of spiritual growth called the fruit of the Spirit.  (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  [Galatians 5:22-23]

Names of friends and loved ones come readily to mind – wonderful, godly  people that display love, joy, peace  …

Does that make them perfect?  Far from it.   Though mature in Christ each will always have within them that sin nature that will be with them all their days.  Sin is never totally eradicated this side of Heaven.

Even mature Christians have “skeletons” in their closet.   Does something they did years ago make them a hypocrite?   Or does it indicate that the mark of sin has been upon them at a particularly low point in their life. 

Sadly, I don’t expect  those prone to condemnation (whether believers or non-believers) to be sympathetic to Josh Duggar.  

Josh is marked for something he did during his teen years- twelve years ago.  Does that make him a hypocrite?   You be the judge.  I choose not to judge but to pray.

Pray for Josh.  Pray for his dear family.   

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I say “I think you have many Christians wrongly pegged. My heart hurts for those struggling with various sins including homosexuality or adultery.  Sin degrades and destroys.  God’s standard of righteousness calls each of us out of sin and calls us to repentance – to turn to Him.   Christ is the only hope for America, for the world. 

Pointing the adulterer or the homosexual to the cross is not hate.  It is love.  

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