Private vs public

So, in an otherwise quiet weekend for political news, it was the disappearance of Mark Oaten from the Liberal Democrat frontbench that stood out. He was accused, in News of the World, of hiring male prostitutes. When confronted with the story, he resigned and issued an apology for his "errors of judgment in personal behaviour and for the embarrassment caused". He has a wife and children - who are among the real victims it seems to me.

The reaction of his political colleagues is interesting. Yet again we are being told this is essentially a private matter, a private tragedy. However, as even the NotW pointed out it has its public aspects. After all here was man who publicly condemned someone else, a judge, who lost his job over something fairly similar. But the point the politicos are really making is that a man can be one thing in private and another in public and that's ok.

But hang on.

If a man is a liar in private, why should we not expect him to tell public lies if he thinks he can get away with it? He clearly has no problem in principle with lying. And if a man is prepared to betray that most personal and fundamental of human relationships, marriage, why should one expect any kind of personal loyalty from him? Admittedly this is probably a problem more for his party than the rest of us. But in that betrayal, so much is involved. Promises have been broken. Why should I trust any of his public promises? Bit of a problem for a politician.

Is redemption possible? Of course. But redemption has it precursors. There's repentance to be exhibited, and somewhere along the line a price to be paid.

Does politics attract flawed people, or is this an example of what politics does to them? Politicians are just like the rest of us. So it should come as no surprise that some of them lie, cheat, steal, abuse. I try not to be cynical. I suspect that such behavior is not typical. I hope it's not. They are perhaps more likely to get caught if they indulge in certain extreme forms of unacceptable behaviour. Maybe the rest of us should consider just how well we would stand up to the scrutiny of the News of the World. But then, there is in fact a far more penetrating scrutiny.

Israel in the OT is interesting in this respect. They were forever going off and hiding when they indulged themselves. As though they could hide from their God. They couldn't. I can't. It's both comforting and challenging to know that He sees me wherever I am, and whatever I'm doing. It's a comfort because it means I'm never outwith His loving gaze. But it's a challenge because I'm also never outwith His holy gaze.