The Outrage of the Week

Last month, Tiger Woods was the most hated man in America. This month, the target has moved. Jesse James, biker and celebrated husband of actress Sandra Bullock, has been awarded the title. Both men have been outed as callous adulterers. Both have endured the outrage of fans and the media. And both have been lampooned for their shocking- shocking, I say!- behavior.

I've gotta confess that I wasn't shocked to learn these men have been unfaithful to their wives. In fact, on several occasions when the topic has come up in conversations, I've asked "So what's wrong with that? Why shouldn't wealthy celebrities have affairs?"

Granted, I know the answer to that question. Adultery is a violation of God's Law. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe in moral absolutes. I realize that some behavior is always wrong because it offends God and hurts other human beings.

But most people in the USA don't have a valid reason to object to the misadventures of guys like Mr. Woods and "Mr. Bullock." Research indicates that most Americans don't believe in moral absolutes. Worse yet, the same research reveals that even most Christians don't believe in absolutes- that some things are always right and others are always wrong. "Who are you to judge another person?" is the guiding principle of this tolerant generation.

But you cannot dismiss the existence of absolutes and then say it's wrong for Tiger to cheat on Elin because he's famous and she's nice. It's irrational to argue for the freedom to choose for ourselves, and then slam Jesse for choosing to sneak around on Sandra. Either marriage is an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman or it's not. If it's not a universal law, then don't try to impose it on public figures without applying it to yourself and your co-workers. But once you agree it's always wrong to commit adultery, there must surely be other universal truths as well. So what's your source of authority, anyway?

The media have financial reasons for their outrage. Yes, the same pillars or respectability who produce and popularize TV shows like Sex in the City and Desperate Housewives are shocked- shocked, I say!- by the idea of celebrities doing indecent things. They are protesting all the way to the bank. Sleazy comedies boost ratings, but so do lurid headlines!

Of course, you and I know that sin is the predominant problem in our culture. And we recognize that adultery is only one arena where people are dishonoring God and injuring one another. If we can't convince people to stop (and we can't,) we should at least cause them to think. So whenever some secular friend at work or school beats up on the Celebrity Adulterer of the Week, don't gleefully join their little parade. Instead, look your friend in the eye and exclaim, "Really! What's wrong with that?" It could lead to a redemptive conversation.