Biblical Justice, Kavanaugh and #MeToo

All media, social and traditional, are packed with stories of sexual misconduct from the U.S. Senate to Hollywood. I affirm that if someone is guilty of such acts AND it can be fairly proven, that person should be held accountable whether they be a federal judge or a studio executive.

I have worked in Hollywood and I have worked on Capitol Hill. I have known professional women who told me how time and time again they were subject to advances, lewd comments or worse. I have nothing but sympathy for those subjected to such treatment.

Yet, as a Christian, I contend that we should always look to God for wisdom in any and all areas to which He has spoken through His Word. Scripture does indeed have a lot to say about how to deal with accusations of misconduct.

The first rule of due process established by God in both Old and New Testaments is that accusations should only be considered if eyewitnesses (plural) are available and can be examined by responsible authorities.

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” (Deut. 19:15).

““If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (Matt. 18:15-16).

“…every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (2 Cor. 13:1)

“Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:19).

God consistently states that solitary charges of misconduct are not to be entertained. It would be anachronistic of course to argue from these texts that other evidence could not be entered into consideration such as DNA, fingerprints, etc. But, according to God’s Word, I believe it a proper interpretation, even with the advance of crime scene analysis, that charges made without any corroboration should be dismissed from the courts and from the court of pubic opinion.

I understand that this will raise the objection that this would allow many guilty people to go free. Yet, this is where a Christian worldview makes a monumental difference. Scripture teaches that justice will be done and executed by God Himself but according to His timeline not ours (see Romans 2:6; 12:19; Rev. 20:12).

It is also important for all of us to note how easy it is for victims to sinfully become victimizers in a quest for quick justice. I will expand on this later but, suffice to say, following the argument of Cornelius Plantinga in his book “Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be,” that history is littered with injustice perpetrated by victims of injustice who all too easily justify in their minds getting even at any cost.