What Would Jesus Say?

Tonight, I watched the interview with the escort that ruined former New York governor Elliott Spitzer's career.  (He ruined his own career actually.)  She explained that she thought of her job as merely that, a job.  Instead of a man taking her out on a date and expecting something in return in bed, it was a formal transaction.  She spoke of her trials and tribulations, dropping out of high school, being betrayed by a man she thought loved her, and being berated by the community when she moved back home.  She spoke of what she wanted to become.  A mother with a supportive husband who could be her best friend, a good career, a home, and kids.  

Later, on Nightline, I watched a story about the economic downturn and its effects on the prostitution industry.  (Being legal in Nevada.)  There are more women than ever applying for jobs at the world-famous Bunny Ranch.  They followed a new girl, who was in her early twenties, if not younger, and nervous as a puppy.  She had applied at food food joints and a daycare center without success.  The owner, a former prostitute, and another female executive led the girl around, revealing to her the ins and the outs of the world's oldest industry.  One woman said that she can always count on business, because people will always pay for "alcohol, drugs, and sex."  It was just a matter of how much less people were going to pay.  Another woman said that business is steady because it is a stress reliever for so many people.  Yet another women explained to the new employee (yes that sounds strange to call them that) the art of price haggling.  It just feels so wrong to see people put a price on that and see people bid on it.  I looked weird to see women holding the hands of men as they guided them back to their "room".  It was fake love.  It just felt so wrong.

Later, while watching ESPN, I heard that Michael Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons star QB (and Virginia Tech Hookie) who is now in prison felonies stemming for his operation a large dog fighting outfit, hung three dogs last spring who didn't past muster in the ring.

Now it is easy to judge these people.  It is easy to look down upon a prostitute.  Maybe even easier to look down upon a dog fighter.  It is easy to hate them.  But my question is, "What Would Jesus say to them"?  Would he judge them blindly or look at them in light of their circumstances.  When looking at the escort of the former governor, it is easy to connect her problems with her upbringing.  She clearly lacked self-esteem and after dropping out of high school she couldn't make much money.  So it was easy to become a prostitute.  She could make money and she didn't have much of a self-esteem to begin with, though she would be appreciated for something.  She has the same dreams as most people.  A good, supportive family.  The best thing she said was that she is not the woman who was the prostitute and that she is a new person now.  Sadly, however, she was obviously still struggling to find herself and support.  But she didn't mention faith, which is truly tragic.  It is important, I think, to remember that the prostitute is probably not that different than you.  They probably have many of the same goals and aspirations, they just got mixed up along the way.

I think it is also important to think about the young woman who is now working as a prostitute in Nevada.  She'd applied at fast food places and a daycare center.  She isn't a terrible person. Next time I eat fast food, I'll try to imagine the worker as a prostitute.  Because they could be. Is a prostitute not just a troubled person?   Maybe they just got lucky and landed the job at the fast food place.   What if that girl would serve you the next time you go to McDonald's.  You wouldn't even know that she could be a prostitute.  Yet, if you knew she had dabbled in prostitution I bet you (and I) would treat her differently.   Even if the person is not a prostitute, they could have just as many troubles as the prostitutes.  You just can't tell.  Because it is not only prostitutes do bad things.  Everyone does.  Prostitutes are people too.  They are not a secondary class of citizens. God loves everyone.  Anyone can mess up, and everyone does.  A prostitute or a burger flipper should not be looked at any differently.  It is easy to judge someone and think of them as subhuman or stupid or not worthy of mercy because of their job. But everyone, even the prostitute deserves our respect and our love.  In fact, they don't deserve any less love than the fast food worker.  If anything they deserve more because they are lost.  It is not easy to take a non-biased, loving look at someone, thinking about their past and how it affected them.  It is hard to not look down at such people and not make a quick judgement.  It isn't easy to throw their mistakes out the window with forgiveness to recognize their potential, but it needs to be done.   Jesus doesn't call people to do easy things.  He calls us to a supernatural, world-changing love and forgiveness.  

Again, it would be easy to judge Michael Vick.  It would be easy to lose all respect for him and not care about him.  But his situation is better understood in light of his childhood.  He and his three siblings were born to unwed teenagers, who lived on government welfare throughout Michael's upbringing.  Their street witnessed many murders and drug deals.  It wouldn't be easy for him to learn the proper morals.  It was terrible what he did and he should be punished. But prison should be a place for rebirth.  He deserves a second chance and a shot at forgiveness, but something tells me many won't give him a chance, because they view him as some sort of a barbarian, instead of a troubled person.   

While I believe Jesus would not support the activities of these people for a second, it is a question of how he would react in opposition.  Would he arrogantly look at the prostitute or the abuser of  defenseless animals, expecting perfection?  It is so easy to look down on people without remembering your own flaws.  I believe that Jesus always would remember that people are not perfect and everyone has their own problems and struggles.  In looking at his dealings with sinners, the woman at the well for instance, I think Jesus wants us to look at people in the context of their life.  Instead of making a quick judgement, I believe he would be slow to speak and quick to listen.  It is only when we follow that lead that we can understand what Jesus would say to the unsavory characters in our lives.