"Let Anyone With Ears Listen!"

Let anyone with ears listen!

A few days ago I wrote about sight — seeing — perceiving.  Today I am wondering about how well we listen.  How well we utilize the ears on both sides of our head. I am thinking about this because of all the recent news, that has been overflowing with young, and not so young, women reporting inappropriate behavior of certain men.  Men with some kind of power.  Be it political power, movie executives, actors or pastoral power.  This is a sick culture, that has been created through the years, has become acceptable.  “It is just the way guys are.”  Right?  “Boys will be boys after all!”  And when a woman reports the “boy’s” behavior they are so easily dismissed. Not taken seriously!

I grew up living with this all-to-degrading — humiliating — culture.   And until recently, I was totally unaware of how subtle the inappropriate implications really are. Simple language that puts a women, sometimes a man, in her/his place.  I am active in the Anti-Trafficking Group here in town; and one night they showed us a video on the various verbal, and body language, jesters used.  It was an eye opener for me!  Things that men, and women, say that are insulting and disrespectful.  Words, and phrases, that make a person into nothing more than a sexual opportunity.  But Oh! They are “just kidding”!  Right?

Why do I bring this up?  It has to do with what this sick culture has done to the pastoral office.  I had been in my first Call, as a Pastor, just about two years.  When the Pastor I was serving with was ask to resign because of eighteen years plus of sexual misconduct.  I watch what that did to people’s trust in a Pastor.  Especially young people’ trust!  I watch a congregation literally die — become dead — with no trust. I listened to the women’s stories!  It made me sick to my stomach! They felt so guilty, so ashamed, even evil.  One of his victims committed suicide out of shame, guilt and total humiliation.  All because of that Pastor, who preached the love and grace of God, misused of women to satisfy his needs. One thing I learned loud and clear, during the next ten years, was that whenever a perpetrator denies the accusation one — at least one — more woman comes forward. That is the pattern! Just think about this last week alone.  The perpetrator denies the abuse!  And another person comes forward to speak!  You might recall that the person in the Oval Office today had several women came forward and stated that they had been sexually disrespected by him.  Yet he was elected anyway!  Do you see how power works?  Do you understand how sick the culture is that ignores the seriousness of this problem?

This culture, of inappropriate language and actions, is no less than adult bullying.  Bullying to get what you want at the expense of others. The insidious part is, some times this bullying looks like kindness!  Even tenderness!  

We need to begin to take these women — and men — seriously!  That is, we need to listen!  Really listen! 

And yes!  There those who “make it all up” to get revenge for whatever  reason they have.   But when more than one person comes forward, about the same perpetrator, I have learned that it is most likely their story is true.

Let anyone with ears listen!

We need to open our ears, and our minds, to the need to stop letting it be okay.  We, as a nation of men and women who are asked to live together in peace, need to reassess the unhealthy habits of sexual behavior and attitudes. No one!  No one appreciated being seen as simply an object to be used for another person pleasure.  Our sexuality is a God given gift to be shared in love and tenderness.  Not for recreation!

There is a section of Matthew’s Gospel — chapter 11 — that comes after five or six chapters of Jesus’ teachings. Where Jesus is talking about this human need to twist what is actually true.  In this case, the perpetrators -- verbal bullies -- are those who want to discredit Jesus and John The Baptist.  Accusing them of not being who they claim to be. This is kind of a reversal of todays stories. Where the accused are actually portraying themselves as upright citizens!  Who are not who they claim to be.  They are just men with power.  Who think it’s okay to use others any way they chose.  Jesus is calling the Israelites to repentance for their behavior and thinking.  Basically telling them to turn around and wake up to the truth.  John The Baptist came to do the same.

That same call to repentance applies to anyone who is tempted to bully and misuse others today!

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.  

Human beings don’t appreciate being called on their behavior!  

So they lie!

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 Let anyone with ears listen! 16 "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 17 "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’(Matt.11:7-17)