Don’t You Know Who I Am?

Why are men like Dominique Strauss-Kahn tempted to think the rules don’t apply to them? How can we all combat the temptations?

France is in shock! Dominique Strauss-Kahn, president of the International Monetary Fund and a leading politician with the French Socialist party, was arrested May 14 and charged with a criminal sexual act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment. This is after an alleged assault on a hotel maid in New York.

From front runner to prisoner

DSK, the initials by which he is commonly known in the French press, was widely touted as the front-runner in the next French presidential election. Imagine the shock! He went from respected international personality to Rikers Island inmate in the space of a few short hours. The whole story seems so unlikely that a survey showed a majority of French citizens believed Mr. Strauss-Kahn was actually the victim of a trap set for him!

However, details from his past and from the ongoing investigation do not bode well for him. A French journalist has come forward with an account of a rape he attempted on her several years ago. In 2008 Mr. Strauss-Kahn was investigated by the IMF for having had an affair with an employee, who later warned the IMF about his aggressive behavior.

If Mr. Strauss-Kahn is found guilty, he will join a long list of political leaders who have been brought low by thinking they could get away with sexual immorality. Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Mark Foley, Mark Sanford, Eliot Spitzer and Arnold Schwarzenegger—the list goes on and on.

Self-deception

It is all too human to believe that “the others may get caught, but not me.” During the alleged attempted rape Mr. Strauss-Kahn reportedly demanded of the maid, “Don’t you know who I am?” as if his power and position would protect him from any negative consequences from his actions.

We men can convince ourselves that we won’t have to face the consequences of our actions. Yet the wheels can come off very quickly. I’m very happily married and don’t feel tempted to cheat on my wife, but I still pay attention to such cautionary tales as a reminder of the life-changing event it would be to stray. And I would have to pay the price, just like you would; God says so.

Your sin will find you out

As we watch the Strauss-Kahn saga unfold, it is a good time to remind ourselves that no one escapes responsibility for his sins. God won’t allow it. One of the lessons we must learn in life is that sin, in all its forms, always catches up with us.

God told Israel, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). And Paul made things very clear: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8).

God doesn’t play favorites

Even the great heroes of the Bible had to face the music.

• Abraham suffered anguish and turmoil in his family because he took matters into his own hands and conceived a son with Hagar instead of waiting on God to provide the promised heir with Sarah (Genesis 21:11).
• As a result of his adultery with Bathsheba, David suffered both in his chaotic family life and in his rule over Israel (2 Samuel 12:10-12). The sins were forgiven, but physical penalties remained to be paid.

As men living in a world increasingly awash with sexual temptations, Internet pornography, women increasingly taking the aggressor role and assurances from supposed experts that straying is “not so bad,” we must remember that God’s standards don’t change. Yes, God knows who we are, and He is not mocked.

How to guarantee a positive outcome

As we follow the DSK affair over the next few months, it would be wise to reflect on the fact that we should always want to “sow to the Spirit,” the only activity that will guarantee a positive final outcome.

As Paul said in Galatians 5:17: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” He continued later: “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:8).

Joel Meeker is a pastor and writer who travels regularly to work in various French-speaking areas of the world, including Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. He and his wife of 26 years have two grown daughters.