Oh bother. Another scandal among evangelicals (although the principal figure here is actually a Catholic, I believe). It involves Dinesh D’Souza, bestselling author and current president of The King’s College in New York City, which is owned by Campus Crusade for Christ. World Magazine reports:
About 2,000 people gathered on Sept. 28 at First Baptist North in Spartanburg, S.C., to hear high-profile Christians speak on defending the faith and applying a Christian worldview to their lives. Among the speakers: Eric Metaxas, Josh McDowell, and—keynote speaker for the evening—best-selling author, filmmaker, and Christian college president Dinesh D’Souza.
D’Souza’s speech earned him a standing ovation and a long line at the book-signing table immediately afterward. Although D’Souza has been married for 20 years to his wife, Dixie, in South Carolina he was with a young woman, Denise Odie Joseph II, and introduced her to at least three people as his fiancée.
When event organizer Tony Beam confronted D’Souza about sharing a hotel room with Joseph, he learned that D’Souza had filed for divorce (that very day, as it turned out), and that he felt he’d done nothing wrong.
I first read this story at Anthony Sacramone’s Strange Herring blog, where Sacramone asked the reasonable question, “What was he thinking?”
But the question that occurs to me is a different one. It seems to me we see this sort of thing more and more, not only among “Christian celebrities,” but among ordinary Christian leaders in local churches. And I get the impression that, for a lot of younger Christians, it’s just not a big deal anymore. The world’s attitude toward sex seems to be taking over. “Everybody does it. No big deal. As long as we’re in love.” It’s no surprise many Christian youth from good churches have no problem with the issue of gay marriage. They don’t even see the point of waiting until marriage.
I’m old, and I know I’m the more bitter sort of puritan. But still I see this as a sign of spiritual death. In my mind, I’m seeing what Revelation describes as “the lampstand being taken away.”
This is sad–and disturbing.
I don’t understand how anyone could see that as no big deal, but that’s the way of denial.
Foxnews.com had an article giving his defense/rationalization of his behavior. What struck me was his saying, “I sought out advice . . .” My thought was first, Whose advise did he seek? Was it those with an broader understanding of the context he was working within, who had a stake in the truth? Or did he only ask the yes-men close to him whose primary interest was pleasing their boss and promoting his agenda. I don’t know the details of his situation, but I do know that those who engage in the upper echelons of public debate will always be tempted to surround themselves with yes-men. Further, they are tempted to lump all opposition together, whether it’s political opponents or those challenging personal lifestyle choices. When we are considered an authority in one area, pride tempts us to assume authority in all areas.
Secondly, were the questions he asked of his advisors so narrowly focused so as to elicit the answers he wanted to hear. People with strong type A personalities tend to manipulate circumstances to avoid dealing with anything that might challenge them. This is nothing new. Hans Christian Andersen wrote of a similar leader in his story, The Emperor’s New Clothes. The wily tailor took advantage of the courtier’s pride by stating that anyone who couldn’t see the new clothes was either a fool or unfit for his job. So, even though nobody could see the new clothes, nobody close to the emperor would admit to being foolish or unfit.
Yet another reminder to all of us in public positions to humble ourselves because pride goeth before the fall.
Good thoughts, Greybeard
I read the article that Greybeard cites and too wondered who D’Souza asked for advice, but I was also struck by one of his questions of whether it is “legal” to be engaged while still married. The answer is of course because engagement is not a legal state but a cultural one.
I have always figured if you’re asking about the legality of a situation and not the righteousness of it, you’re not really looking for the truth anyway.