Clinton Scandal Exposes our Moral Code

“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” (James 3:11)

Bill Clinton has survived more than a handful of crises during his presidency so don’t be surprised if he avoids impeachment for committing perjury about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. They don’t call him “Slick Willie” for nothing.

In spite of what we may think, Clinton is working overtime to salvage his presidency. Last week, while speaking at a prayer breakfast hosted by the White House, Clinton gave an apology that has been long overdue:

“I agree with those who have said that, in my first statement after I testified, I was not contrite enough.”

“I don’t think there is a fancy way to say that I have sinned. It is important to me that everybody who has been hurt knows that the sorrow I feel is genuine…”

“I have asked all for their forgiveness. But I believe to be forgiven, more than sorrow is required. At least two more things: first, genuine repentance, a determination to change and to repair breaches of my own making. I have repented.”

Well, he has certainly put our Christian faith to a test now because my Bible says that forgiveness is not negotiable when a Christian repents and seeks forgiveness. (Luke 17:3)

Clinton apology raises two questions. Is he a Christian? Has he really repented?

Only time will answer either question. But the president’s behavior doesn’t point the way to model Christian conduct. Be careful here. Before you pass judgment on Clinton’s faith, remember that the Bible is full of stories of adultery by god-fearing, god-believing men. Even King David committed adultery and there is no question that he had a deep and abiding love for God.

It’s also too early to render judgment about whether the president’s repentance is genuine. Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16) In other words, we are going to be forced to sit on the sidelines and watch our president. If his repentance is real, his life will show a genuine change. We have to trust what we have been told, at least for now.

I’m not sure If President Clinton will survive this scandal. The evidence is simply too convincing that he lied about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. When it’s all said and done, you can’t put one hand on the Bible, promise to tell the truth, lie, and get away with it. So his presidency is either severely crippled or over. The next few months will tell the story.

The real crisis in our country doesn’t rest with the presidency. It rests with the American people. We have lost our ability to discern the difference between right and wrong. Think about it. A majority of us finds nothing wrong with behavior that is too disgusting to be reported on the evening news.

James Dobson recently said, “We are facing a profound moral crisis…because our people no longer recognize the nature of evil. And when a nation reaches that state of depravity, judgment is a certainty.”

Our country is in desperate trouble and the only hope is a return to the Biblical moral principles upon which it was founded. George Washington said it this way in his farewell address to Congress in 1796: “Of all the disposition and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports…and let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion…reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

Pray for our President and our country. We are both in need of God’s mercy and love.