The Sanford I know will repent for his actions

My column this morning about Gov. Mark Sanford received mixed reaction. Here are a few of the emails:

Issac: I enjoy more of your writing than not, but am oftentimes troubled by your attempt to sit on the fence. It looks like pandering to an amorphous and ill-defined reader base. Finally, in your second to last paragraph, you say how Sanford shirked his responsibilities. Good, I'm glad you eventually got there but wish we didn't have to go through Swaggart, Spitzer and Bauer first.

You and your colleague Bestler sure were easy pickings for Sanford. A word, a smile, a slap on the back, sending him emails, riding in your car. You two seem to crave attention as much as he does. I am not an expert but I have heard about narcissism and have, unfortunately, known some narcissists. Things never turn out well for them because enough is never enough. Sanford is a narcissist. His wife didn't matter, nor his sons, nor his job, nor his "dear, dear friend", nor his God. All that matters to a narcissist is themselves. 

You are a good guy, and like I said, I enjoy most of your stuff. In this instance though, you should have written a real column. Like Sanford, you are a public figure. You cannot always walk around the swamp.

Andy Mishoe. 

 

Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord” (Psalm 119:156). “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works” (145:8–9, my italics).

 

I want to ask you a question I’ve been asking myself lately: Are you a merciful person? Most of us would answer, “I think I am merciful. To the best of my ability, I sympathize with those who suffer. I feel the pain of my hurting brothers and sisters in Christ, and I try to help them. I do my best to assist my neighbors in need. And when people hurt me, I forgive them and don’t hold a grudge.”

I believe all true Christians have a good measure of mercy for the lost and hurting. I thank God for that. But the sad truth is, God’s Word exposes in many of us deep roots of bias and very limited concepts of mercy.

 

Most religions that claim to fear God have a creed or doctrine that says, “God’s tender, loving mercies extend to all of humankind.” As followers of Jesus, we talk so much about his tender mercies to the wide world. But here is the truth:

 

There are many people to whom large numbers of Christians limit God’s mercy. I think of prostitutes who work in godless brothels. I think of people in Africa and other continents dying by the thousands with AIDS. I think of homosexuals who endure endless heart-aches and mental anguish, the trials of their lives, and who drink themselves into oblivion to try to cover their pain.

From what I read in Scripture, I can’t accept that my Savior would ever turn down the desperate cry of a prostitute, a homosexual, a drug addict or alcoholic who has hit rock bottom. His mercies are unlimited: there is no end to them. Therefore, as his church — Christ’s representative body on the earth — we cannot cut off anyone who cries out for mercy and deliverance.

We may not even be aware of these inner biases until suddenly they’re in our face, confronting us with the truth about our hearts. As you consider this in your own life, I ask you again: Are you a merciful person, tender and loving? I picture many readers saying, “Yes.” Yet, ask those around you — your family, your co-workers, your friends and neighbors, your friends of a different color — and see how they respond.

David Wilkerson (Times Square Church)

 

Issac, i think if Sanford had his way you would still be a slave, i always thought Swaggart was a phony like a lot of preachers J Jackson etc, just cry with a Bible in hand here in the south,you know Sanford better then his wife and boys,i guess his boys had to call their dad if they could and say hi dad, hope you are having a good time , the man loves himself.  Ron Barley

 

Dear Issac:

Isn't it interesting that just yesterday your column was about Gov Sanford. I don't believe that there are coincidences in this life, so the timing is worth pondering. Like yourself, my heart breaks for the governor. We are ALL sinners (Romans 3:23)- it's just that some sins are more obvious - or more "horrible" in our eyes - but in God's eyes - a sin is a sin. So before we go condemning the gov - or anyone else, we should look "at the plank" in our own eye. In today's column you mention an ideal that may not be attainable. I don't think the "ideal" you mention is attainable - even though it may sometimes appear to be. My dad used to say "Knock on any door...everyone struggles with something." Even the great St. Paul who wrote a significant portion of the New Testament said "The things I know I should do - I don't do, and the things I know I shouldn't do - I do." So the gov - and you and I - are in good company! We will never be able to obtain the ideal we so strive for - wi hout Jesus - that is why He died on the cross - to make a way for us weak humans. I faithfully read your columns because most of the time they have a "searching" theme. You always seem to be seeking - and that's a good thing. Please don't lose hope as you look toward the many who fail. We will all fail at sometime. Look toward the One who holds you in His loving hands and sees your searching - He will never disappoint you! PS I am waiting to see you at South Strand Assembly of God (9:00 & 11:00)!! Eileen Robertson

Sure Sanford will repent for his sins, he is under a spotlight. Could it be he is sorry because he got caught....... More likely!! Sure there are a lot of republicans , that will stick by him, even if he had killed God. What do we stand for ?  Right decisions or wrong decisions'? He left our state and just walked off the job. Who can walk off their job and not report to any one? Suppose we had ,had a disaster, while he was away............." Yes", he should resign. Not only did he betray his wife and sons, he betrayed our state. He is irresponsibility to our state., and   irresponsibility to wife and family. He is in counseloring because his wife found out about the other woman-- and he still take time to slip away with this woman. You made a very ugly statement about our Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, and any body would be better for our state then Sanford............ I enjoy your articles, but to day for you to say Sanford should stay in because  LT. Andre Bauer is not mature, is beyond me. I do not think Bauer, would walk off the job and leave the state  with out informing the ones in charge where he is................. That counts for a lot.......
Thanks, and have a blest day............... Ml. Motts

 

 

Comments

[Sunny Fry]

I pretty much agree with you, Issac, though I didn't have much love for Swaggart. Whoever wrote that Sanford is a narcissist is just playing armchair psychologist -- all of us have times in our lives when we really *are* selfish, and don't behave rationally, and cause harm. One incident does not a narcissist make.

I think the best comment I've read on this combined practicality and kindness -- that the man we saw yesterday is an obviously broken man. His political career is finished, but if he resigns now, he may have a chance yet to save his marriage and his sanity.

I genuinely wish him and his family -- and his lady friend -- peace and resolution.

[Issac Bailey]

I absolutely agree. I don't see the point of his staying on as governor. He definitely looked like a broken man, which means there needs to be lots -- lots -- of internal work to get back to where he and his family need to be. And with someone in that kind of state, already incredibly weakened politically, resignation seems the proper course of action to me, but I'm hoping he'll do it on his own terms, standing up for the principles he always talked about, rather than having a steady drumbeat get louder to force him out.

[cat1dog]

Issac -

I enjoyed your article -

I think the difference between - Swaggart - Clinton and Sanford is Swaggart made his living talking about the Lord and telling people how they should live morally - Then he does the exact opposite -

Clinton and Sanford were elected to govern the people - Sure politicians talk about “moral values” but that is part of the political game and they are not religious leaders - Their primary function is to lead politically -
I could care less if these guys have affairs as long as they do what they are suppose to do politically - Just like I could care less what a carpenter - landscaper or electrician does in their private life -

If you are a politician - carpenter - landscaper or electrician and you get caught cheating on your spouse -
You will cause pain to your family but you should not loose your job in my opinion -

On the other hand - If you are a
carpenter - landscaper or electrician and your boss told you -
You must be at work next week - I have a big job and my business depends on it -
Then you do not show up because of “love matters” and you get fired -
Others will understand that you may have had your reasons but they also know that you let the boss down -
If you make your private life part of your work life then you can not blame the company -

In this case - The company is the state of SC - The worker is the governor and the important job is running the state -

The governor of any state can not just “go away” because of love -

As I said - I enjoyed your article - The only thing I did not agree with was when you said -

“I won't call for the governor's resignation. A weakened Sanford is better than an opportunistic Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a man who still has to convince the state he has matured beyond his teenage years” -

To me that is like saying - I hope they do not impeach Clinton because if they do we will get Gore -

Or - Bush is a lousy president but I hope he lasts his term out because if not we get Chaney -

It does not matter if people like Bauer or not - Andre Bauer was elected - Our governor left his post and Andre Bauer is next in line -

It does not matter if you are Democrat - Republican or Independent -
Perhaps one of the lessons we all need to learn in this country is pay more attention to who is running for VP or LT Governor - Americans never seem to care about that much and you never know when you will really need one to take over