The Bill Cosby Fiasco

   Just weighing in...I've been quiet for the last few months, watching Bill Cosby live under the firestorm of accusation. There are two sides to every story, and God knows the truth. Bill Cosby is being accused of sexual misconduct, including rape by over twenty women. As of yet there has been no indictment on any of the accusations, except in the court of public opinion. I personally am not going to give an opinion of guilt or innocence concerning Bill Cosby or his accusers; but I will say that for any man to use his position of privilege as a means to take advantage of young women is wrong. It is equally as wrong for anyone to character assassinate another person, to slander another, and to dismantle and destroy someone's life and legacy. The court system says one is innocent until proven guilty. The court of public opinion is hard and cruel and doesn't care to know all the facts.

    While I do not doubt that these women have been hurting for years and are finally relived to unhinge their silence, and the emotional prison to which they were bound. I can't help but wonder, why now? Why not say something when he was in the throes of a thriving television career? What is the motive? As I think of the spirit of accusation my mind goes to the woman caught in the very act of adultery and the men standing before Jesus to accuse her...and then I think about Jesus who also lived under the cloud of accusation. Jesus was perhaps one of the most popular men of his day. Being popular doesn't mean being well liked, his detractors were always around. We read in the gospel accounts of his last ride into Jerusalem on a donkey amidst the praise and adoration of the people. A day later those same people turned on Jesus and wanted him crucified because of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin accused Jesus of blasphemy and treason and the people turned on Jesus with a-quickness. So what I'm saying is people are fickle. One day they are with you and the next day...oh, well! 

It's amazing to see how reasonably intelligent men and women have succumbed to mob mentality in attacking Bill Cosby's reputation, mocking him, heckling at his shows, and have dismantled his television legacy, as if it never existed. It is equally disheartening that such a sensitive subject as rape and sexual misconduct has become fodder for comedians and others without concern for these women who were finally brave enough to break their silence. This situation is tragic for all involved and should not be made light of as these women and Bill Cosby have to deal with the issues at hand.

I grew up watching Bill Cosby and was proud that an African-American man was visible on the big screen as well as the small screen. The Cosby show in its heyday was one of my favorite shows, and Bill Cosby was always the perfect dad. But, even seemingly perfect dads have skeletons in their closet. And let's be honest- those who sit in the court of public opinion- I wonder what could be found if we peeped into your closet door? 

As a Christian I will not judge Bill Cosby or his accusers, because how I judge them in this matter, I too will be judged-

Matthew 7:1-3- "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

As a Christian I will continue to pray for Bill Cosby, his family, and these women, they all have to pick up the shard pieces of their lives and figure out how to go on from here. In the meantime-

John 8:7- "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone..." 

SELAH!

Shalom!

Pastor Tracy

Selah- means to pause, think about it and give God praise.