Jon and Kate (plus God)

So it has apparently been confirmed that Jon of "Jon and Kate plus 8" has been having an adulterous relationship with a 3rd grade teacher over the past few months.

This is sad.

Its sad on a number of levels:...because of the offense to God (Psalm 51), because of the damage caused to his family, because of the relentless media onslaught that has begun about this very personal issue, and because of the ammunition that this will provide for some who wish to make a mockery of our faith.

Not long ago this couple wrote a book about their life with 8 children. Because they had been so vocal about faith on their TLC reality show, the Christian published Zondervan picked up their story for print. The news of this Christian super-family experiencing such dreadful sin will certainly flame the anti-Christian engines of many in the media.

For me the situation brings a few points to mind:

- Adultery is wrong. See Exodus 20, the Ten Commandments.
- Fantasizing about Adultery is wrong. See Matthew 7 and Jesus remarks about lust.

- The devil is a being with limited resources. He is not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent.
- Like any good General who is working with limited resources, the devil must choose where to direct his minions in their work of temptation, lies, and deceit.
- People who are very vocal AND/OR public about their faith are good targets for the evil one. If he can get them to fall, they will take out many on their way down. There is no point for him to worry about convincing non-believers or lukewarm believers to sin, they are usually already engaged on some level. It is the folks who wage war on their sin nature and who desire to make God known - they are the devil's targets. (see the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis)

- Jon and Kate were people in the media who seemed to be unafraid to vocalize their belief. (So were King David, Peter, and Ted Haggard)
- Those who desire to stand up for Christ should be prepared for the pending spiritual attacks. Prayer, studying the Word, a strong support community in the local church, etc... (I think this includes me since I write this blog, talk to co-workers about Jesus, and try to obey his will)

- Even in the wake of adultery, the desire of God is for reconciliation. Divorce is not legitimate, even though it was permitted. (Last time I made this statement I came under pretty harsh attack and subsequent testing personally - praise God he is gracious and rescued me from the lies of the evil one). See Matthew 19 and Jesus response to the Pharisee.
- If Jon and Kate ask for God's forgiveness of this sin and subsequently repent of it, exhibit the same divine mercy towards each other, get good biblical counseling, and make a formal apology to the many who have been distressed by this news...then the glory of the Lord may yet shine in the midst of the darkness we just found out about. Because ultimately, the gospel is about unmerited grace.

Jon and Kate have a chance to show the world a portrait of God's beautiful grace, the power of forgiveness, and the hope of reconciliation in their response to this sad situation. We should pray for them.