This is the way I feel this morning. (Now I am comparing myself to Ezra. Will the pride of man never cease?)

While I am appalled, I am not going to tear my tunic or my cloak. Having a New England background I would never deliberately tear my clothes. Our slogan is, "Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without."

Well, exactly what is the problem? It has to do with yesterday's newspaper. One article included the comments of leading Christian ministers concerning a confession, by the President of the United States, of "inappropriate" behavior. The other article, complete with pictures, described a current revival taking place in a local church.

Last night our own church hosted a seminar on child molestation, a common problem in our culture. In fact, from what the newspapers are telling us, Christian people are guilty of this crime.

These things are all connected in my mind.

First of all, what did the Christian leaders say about the confession by the President? The burden of their message seemed to be that we should not judge the President, that the behavior indeed was inappropriate but this is life and hopefully there will be, on his part, better moral conduct in the future.

I don't think this is the correct message or witness of the Lord. It seems to me the thing that ought to be preached is that immoral behavior and lying are sinful and we need the Lord's help in overcoming these. Our nation is morally bankrupt, a cesspool of lust and perversion. Every Christian minister should be reminding the people continually that there is power in the grace of Jesus Christ not only to forgive our sins but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Christian people are not keeping the commandments of the Lord. How then can they expect better behavior of the secular government?

The President, whom I think is a professed Christian, seems to be emphasizing that he should be forgiven. Perhaps many believers agree with this. I really think we do not understand when to forgive and when to recognize sin and condemn it. I know God understands the difference.

Child molestation is one symptom of the sickness of sexual lust. It is as though the entire nation is being deluged each day with showers of lust, pornography, perversion. The main subject of the television "comedies" is infidelity. Will it never end? We are being made the slaves of our glands.

The issue is not whether the President is guilty or whether he should be forgiven. The issue is that the nation is drowning in lust, and it is the business of the Christian ministry to bring the believers to the point of renouncing the whole rotten, stinking morass of physical lust, taking their forgiveness, and walking in newness of life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We were doing this last night in our assembly, being aided in our understanding by a clinical psychologist who gave us pointers on how to recognize the symptoms of molestation; also how to assist children who have been subjected to satanic ritual abuse—another incredibly horrible practice in America.

To be continued.