Another Wrinkle in #MeToo Saga

Some days Public Radio reporting on sexual assault expose' can give you a dark day, even when the sun is shining. That was January 15, for me.

That day's news was of a male Grammy Award winner who invited an unknown young woman to have a date with him.  There were sexual acts requested and granted between them.  But the young woman, called "Grace" anonymously "felt uneasy and uncomfortable" about the encounter and communicated that to the Grammy man next day, and then described her discomfiture to the press.  The public heard all about it several times in newscasts next day.

Two women reporters of different networks were invited in to comment.  One defended the man, feeling what he had done did not rise to "sexual assault."  The other felt the issue was consent and whether the woman had given consent or not.

Both reporters felt the critical factor was consent.  From there, Public Radio went on to declare how important it is, that children - even at a very young age - should be taught how important their personal will and consent was, in all issues of life, but particularly around the question of touching and being touched.

What made certain acts right or wrong was solely based on the parties' level of comfort or discomfort.  No other standard was brought to bear. Not whether society cared, or God cared.  The discussion was absent of any moral or ethical framework given to humankind within which to live.

One of the commenting reporters declared how important it was to at least have training in the understanding of consent by the Junior High years, since the coming High School years were when young people would be needing to give or withhold their consent.

Here, in 2018, we as a society have no apparent first and obvious place to which to turn to find guidance, and a moral code, and a history of care about Right and Wrong to help us see and understand how deep and critical it is to know right from wrong, and the turning to that standard and teaching it to our children, and helping them - and all people see and endeavor to know and live by such a standard.

Jesus quoted God's creation of us all when he articulated the heart of the relationship between men and women when it comes to their obligations to each other.  "for...a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and they shall become one flesh."  God's picture of men and women coming together in a sacred relation of life commitment to each other, to FORM a FAMILY, and fill it with love, and loyalty, forever.  The very basis and purpose of our whole sexual relationship.

As a parish minister, counseling many young couples on the nature of the marriage relationship on which they were embarking, I have lifted up this Biblical understanding and framework for their new life.

That whole theology is articulated in one of my books, called "Struggling With Sex."  It encompasses much of what I've learned out of this long experience.  The book is on Amazon, or can be had through this website. 

Let us know if we can help you with your understanding of this modern, and critically important issue.  You may email us with your request at arthurrouner@gmail.com.