In a tone of sadness and self-reproach, Clinton said of the affair: “I think I did something for the worst possible reason — just because I could. I think that’s just about the most morally indefensible reason that anybody could have for doing anything.”
My first reaction to the new “morally indefensible Bill Clinton” was - “well at least he’s being honest now!” Then like a strobelight in the darkness the plank in my eye* started throbbing. How many times have I done something just because I could? How many times have I found a loop hole or a gap in my good Christian accountability system? How many times have I used my position of influence (not necessarily in ministry) to get something just for me, at the expense of someone else?
Erwin Raphael McManus (my favorite author) writes volumes about influence and manipulation in his second work Seizing Your Divine Moment. In the chapter intitled “Influence” he makes the following statement. “We are always more open to influence than we are to authority.” I remember how upset I was, ten years ago, when Clinton, a proclaimed Christian, blatantly ignored God’s authority, it was an OUTRAGE! (my eye is really starting to hurt now)
There are many times when I wonder why I was called to influence others regarding the life changing salvation by the grace of God. I have been blessed by the way Christ has used me to influence teens as a youth pastor. But there are also people who have been manipulated to see me as an important person and missed out on the divine gift. For that I will be indefensible before God. Through those experiences I have learned something. In order to be an effective influence for Christ, you must strive to see people through God’s eyes, looking for their potential to the Kingdom, not scanning their character for specks*.
McManus also writes - “We must always remember that God’s greatest moments for us are never for us alone. They are always about our lives touching the lives of others.”
The harder I try to live for others, the better I am at squelching manipulation. The more diligent I am about seizing the divine moments God gives us all on a daily basis, the better my chances are to lead someone to the loving heart of Jesus — Just because I could.
Hypocrite! First get rid of the plank from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Matthew 7:5
