Jian's "Tastes" - A Christian Perspective

Canadians are shocked by the recent allegations that a well-loved public figure may have engaged in a secret life of habitual sexual violence. Much is yet to be determined in the courts, but Canadians are struggling right now to understand, to interpret, to address what appears to be a devastating tragedy for a number of women. What these women described in their accounts is nothing short of horrifying, that any human being could treat another with such disregard and cruelty. Indeed, it is even worse when we realize that there is an untold number of women and men who have experienced similar horrors but who are afraid to speak out.

Just a week ago Canadians came together to mourn a terrible event in Ottawa – and now I sense a need for a collective mourning and reconciliation over this issue. But how? How do we make sense of this? How can we understand these women’s experiences? How can we help them and others like them? How can we even begin to address this? 

The courts will have their own way to address this, but for many Canadians like myself, that is not enough. It’s difficult to sit back and wait because we know that this is deeper than one man’s actions. We want to do something to stop/prevent this kind of thing... It may be as simple as a collective willingness to talk about such problems, help victims to understand that they are not alone, and perpetrators to understand that they cannot get away with abuse under the label of “kink” or “tastes.” The ensuing public conversations will no doubt raise a number of considerations.

A Christian Perspective

As a Christian I find myself reaching for my own set of cultural meanings as I struggle to understand and address this issue. I don’t know if this will make sense to you if you’re a non-Christian, but I really think there’s only one real solution to this problem: we need repentance, a turning to God.

We all know this issue is bigger than one man. I will go so far as to say it is bigger than the subset of people who gain pleasure from sexual violence. The problem is a widespread acceptance of sin, which all of us are guilty of allowing in our own lives. Have we not all had anger and lust in our hearts? We may not have had the will, the opportunity, or the means to put such feelings into practice (thank goodness), but I suspect we have each harboured a dark feeling of hatred, envy, rage of some sort, even if not of the same sort as this. In that sense, sadly, the man in question may not be so different from any of us. 

Rather than turn these things over to God for cleansing, however, this man harboured them. Kept them secret. Indulged in fantasies in his heart and mind, and then when that wasn’t enough for him, sought out opportunities to enact his fantasy. Up to this point I have tried to avoid using loaded words like perversion and evil, but sometimes you just have to call it as you see it. As I see it, hurting someone for pleasure is evil. We should stop lying to ourselves by saying it's simply a matter of taste.

This is where we can all benefit from the wisdom of Jesus. He gets right to the heart of the problem. Observe what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)


And on another occasion: “those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man…” (Matthew 15:17-20)

These statements indict us all as sinners, whether we have actually carried out evil actions or not. The problem is not simply evil actions. Evil actions can only come as a result of evil desires and attitudes. If we want to get to the heart of what’s wrong in our society, we cannot just look at the tip of the iceberg; we have to recognize that the real problem is something much more internal, and more widespread than we’re often willing to admit. I’ve written more about this in another blog post here: http://eph1-17.blogspot.ca/2013/07/for-all-have-sinned.html
 
The Solution: God’s transforming power

The point of blaming the depravity of man is not to wallow in despair, but rather to identify the appropriate solution. Here’s the good news: God can transform a sinner from the inside out. 

How do I know? We have extensive records of people (over several centuries, all the way from the first century to today) who have claimed that Jesus has changed their lives! Walk into a Christian church today and ask people if they have been born again, and you will undoubtedly find people who have left behind lives of alcoholism, depression, debilitating guilt, idolatry, and abuse, and instead have allowed God to transform them and give them a new life with direction and purpose. Some will likely be willing to share their testimonies with you. 

We also have God’s promise stated in the Bible:

“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:25-26)

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (Titus 3:3-6)

Whatever you have been keeping secret from others, so afraid that anyone else will find out – lusts, pornography, hatred, bitterness, racism, greed – you can lay it all down at the foot of the cross. You don’t have to let it eat you up anymore. You don’t have to just accept that that’s just the way you are, not if you know it causes pain to you and others! Not if it keeps you from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ! God has provided us a way, through Jesus. 

Jesus said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17)

Concluding remarks

The purpose of this blog post is NOT to shame anyone, to rally the morality police, to call for new legislation, or to intrude in anyone’s private lives. It’s simply to articulate one perspective on recent news and encourage people to think of what I see to be the overarching problem that allows horrendous incidents like these ones to occur. Do I expect everyone to convert to Christianity? No – you all have free will and many of you will reject everything I’m saying. But if I can help establish a connection between just ONE person and Jesus, I know that it will make the world of difference to that person. Imagine how things could have been different if Jian had become a converted Jesus-follower and repented years ago. Imagine how things could be different in your own life.

I’m going to end this post with a rather long biblical passage because I think it captures the seriousness of the recent situation, and sums up the call to set aside evil to follow Jesus. 

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us… 

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; …For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Ephesians 5:1-14)

Give your life to God, my friends. Don’t delay. Pray for the victims of abuse everywhere and commit to being supportive in whatever way you can should the opportunity arise. God bless you.