Why Do They Hide Adultery?

The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk; he thinks, 'No eye will see me,' and he keeps his face concealed. Job 24:15 (NIV)

If adultery wasn't so bad, then why do men (and women) hide what they are doing? Why is it such a big secret? Could it be because they feel guilty?

President Clinton led a grand jury on a wild goose chase as he dodged questions about his sinful act of infidelity by quibbling over the definition of "is". An asinine way to keep things in the "dark".

Adulterers meet in the dusk because the dusk is the most difficult time of day to see. Why? Because our eyes are making the adjustment to the dark. The adulterer does it mainly because they think that they will not get caught.

The question is, does adultery make a person ineffective to lead?

But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Prov 6:32 (NIV)

Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive; Expect a bloody nose, a black eye, and a reputation ruined for good. Prov 6:32-33 (MSG)

Notice how adultery is characterized in both versions. Adultery is self-destructive. How capable is the leadership of people who are indulging in their sexual desires with someone other than their spouse? Do you wonder if they may be distracted trying to find out how to make the next "night visit"? Of course they are.

And then there is the fear of being caught thing. Black eyes and bloody noses are the least to be expected. If we lived in biblical times, then we would know adultery as a capital offense, which deserved none other than death.

The NIV version says that a person who commits adultery lacks judgment. How stable is a person who spends most of their time cheating on their spouse or chasing after some other person's spouse? If they have standards for relationship set that low then how much lower are their standards for leadership?

Adultery ruins reputations forever. People spend lifetimes trying to rebuild their lives when they are caught in an adulterous relationship.

But President Clinton stayed on as president.

Yes, unfortunately he did but look how ineffective he became afterward. His reputation is still impugned, and he is rarely seen with his wife.

This isn't a pick on Mr. Clinton post though. He unfortunately fit the topic. I pray that he was really sincere in his repentance and that he has changed his ways. Jesus forgives and so should we.

An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?” Prov 30:20 (NLT)

For a leader to be effective, they cannot be consumed by sinful immoral acts. They will continually act as if it doesn't matter or that it is just a personal matter. I am sorry but you cannot separate the personal life from the public life unless you have multiple personalities. Your ethics will show in both areas of your life. If you lack moral ethics in your personal life you will act without moral ethics in your public life.

If we as Christians do not hold our leaders up to higher moral standards, then they will continue to live in dark corners spending more time making new liaisons instead of acting on behalf of those they serve.

Help them out. Vote for a person who holds marriage in the highest regard. You will see a big difference in the ethics of that person as compared to the lack of moral ethics of the one who commits adultery. Plus, a moral person is a lot easier to trust.

Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse. A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench. Prov 10:6-7 (MSG)

The truth is in the lifestyle. Choose leaders wisely. Remove the stench from government.