A disturbing trend in our culture, though thankfully one which has yet to take a firm hold, is the attempt to normalise pedophilia. Thus far, thankfully, this has been met with great resistance. However, it has reached the point where a "politically correct" term has been invented to describe pedophiles. Rather than "pedophile", a word we rightly regard as dirty, and no one wants to have attached to them, some suggest we should instead refer to them as "Minor Attracted Persons", or "MAPs".
An appropriate response to this phenomena is staunch rejection. We do not need to dress it up in "nice" terms, we do not need to embrace political correctness, we need to call out this abomination for what it is. Pedophilia is a grievous sin, arguably one of, if not the worst sins a person can commit. This is, perhaps, the main reason many of us suddenly lose our natural aversion to Hell when we hear of it. Even in prison, pedophiles are the most persecuted group, receiving serious threats from fellow prisoners, and even guards alike.
This would explain how brazenly a Christian in a group I follow recently posted a meme on this topic. Jesus, sitting next to a man on a bench, identifies him as a pedophile, to which the pedophile responds "No, I'm a M.A.P.... "a minor attracted person"... it's different...". In the next slide, an angel can be seen throwing the man into Hell, announcing "In you go pedo".
I believe this meme is entirely appropriate. Maybe not for a comedy group; it's a very heavy topic, and not one I feel especially comfortable joking about. I don't even like talking about this issue. This article is beyond difficult for me to write, because the sin is so grievous, I hate reminders that it exists. But more disturbing to me is that, as usual, the comments section contained at least one person who objected to it, not because of the topic it addresses, but because of how it addresses it.
Now, I want to make it quite clear: I do not think, for one second, that this person supports pedophiles, and I do not want my readers to assume that either. Indeed, their response suggests they rightly believe pedophilia is a sin for which Christ will condemn the impenitent. However, by their comment, I believe they have made several grievous mistakes which, if they become widespread, will put us all in a very precarious position in the future. Therefore, I see it as necessary to publicly respond to these errors, using this comment as an example.
In full, the comment is: "I'm sorry but I don't think that is funny or appropriate. It portrays Jesus as uncaring. I believe that it causes Him great pain to have to send someone to hell...but He is a just God. Some things should not be joked about. Just remember all sin is equal to Jesus." I will now break it down and respond.
"I'm sorry but I don't think that is funny or appropriate."
Although I will agree it is not funny, I believe the meme is fully appropriate. It doesn't portray the entire truth (though of course, memes rarely do), but it does portray an important one. Namely, sin cannot be trivialised, and there can be no compromise.
It's worth noting that we, as a culture, have seen this all before. Throughout history, we have gone through the same cycle with many sins. First, the sin is tolerated. Then, it is celebrated. Then it is protected. One need only look at the LGBT agenda as an example. Where once it was heavily frowned upon, it is now considered a "hate crime" to even speak against it. Take, for example, the case of Paivi Rasanen. By merely quoting Scripture in a Tweet, Rasanen summoned the wrath of the Finnish "Justice" system (1).
Regardless of your views on homosexuality, it should be easy to condemn the persecution of Christians for merely quoting the Bible, or for believing it. But this is a mess we have made ourselves by "tolerating" it. To be clear, I am not suggesting we should go out and persecute gay people in return. However, by conceding ground to them, bowing to their "politically correct" demands, and validating their emotions over the truth, we have created a society wherein it is possible for them to persecute us.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to live in a world where telling people pedophilia is a sin might result in me going to jail. Pedophilia is a grievous sin. I will say it now, I will say it later, I will not apologise for it under any circumstances, and I certainly will not be toning down my condemnation of it. The word is pedophile, not "M.A.P.". It is an ugly word. It should be condemned, it should be called out, and as long as I'm standing at that particular gate, I will guard it to my dying breath. I will protect children over the feelings of pedophiles and their sympathisers, no exceptions or apologies.
The most charity I am willing to extend to pedophiles is that, as we will see shortly, Jesus prefers their salvation to their extermination. Scripture repeatedly affirms that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11), isn't willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), and wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Therefore, since the Lord desires the salvation of pedophiles, so do I.
This does not protect them from consequences on Earth. Romans 13:1-6 tells us the government exists to punish evil, and "does not bear the sword in vain". Therefore, we should report and punish any and all pedophilia. With that being said, there is the issue of non-practicing pedophiles. Those who have never touched a child inappropriately, or viewed inappropriate material of that nature. Nevertheless, they may feel the desire. I believe it is Godly to help such people. As a Church, we should make it easy for them to seek that help. Confess to us, we will not persecute you. We will keep you accountable, we will restore you. And of course, if we truly believe God wants all to be saved, we should even be willing to minister to pedophiles in prison. While they serve their time in prison, we must guide them to repentance and salvation, remembering God wants it for them, as He has also saved us for our own sins. But we can go no further than that. We cannot shield them from consequence, and yes, they should feel uncomfortable with it.
"It portrays Jesus as uncaring. I believe that it causes Him great pain to have to send someone to hell..."
Although this is true, it's worth noting that the second image does not seem to portray Jesus, but an angel. Note Jesus' words in Matthew 13:30: "...at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”"
How literal are these reapers? It is possible, based on His teachings, that Christ Himself will not actively cast anyone into Hell, but will have angels do so on His behalf. Regardless of the reality, the image itself seems to be portraying this view. Now, it is possible angels feel similar emotions to God. It is also, however, possible that they do not. After all, while we are made in His image, this does not seem to be a feature of the angels. This would explain why He does not save them, nor does He even help them (Hebrews 2:16). So perhaps, especially if it is their job to cast the impenitent into the fire, they are designed with a certain indifference towards it.
But all of this is irrelevant. Ultimately, Jesus did preach quite extensively on the topic of Hell, and He didn't seem shy about it. Better to lose a limb, or even an eye, than to be cast there, He said (e.g. Matthew 5:29). Even in Matthew 7:21-23, in which He describes judgment day, He seems quite stoic: "“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"
Although this isn't quite "in you go, pedo", note how stone cold these words are. "I never knew you, depart from me". Perhaps, as He brought these teachings, there were tears in His eyes, which we cannot see as readers looking back. Perhaps, when He says them in the future, He will be choking back tears. But it can be assumed if "in you go, pedo" was replaced with these same words in the meme, it would offend this person just as much.
Of course, ultimately, the meme is trying to portray one simple truth: "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." (Luke 17:2). A time will come when every pedophile will stand before the throne of God, and He will render to each one according to his deeds. The cross is a preferable outcome. You're guilty, but you placed your faith in Christ, therefore your guilt is attributed to Him, and His righteousness attributed to you.
But what if you are so impenitent, you try to disguise your sin in nicer terms like "Minor Attracted Person"? What if you're more offended by being called a pedophile than how accurate that label is? What if you want to change how you are seen by the world more than you want to change how you behave? Then Hell is entirely appropriate. And warning you is entirely appropriate. And if you still will not respond positively? You should be shunned. You don't get to be "just another sexuality". When two adult men commit homosexual sin with each other, that's one thing. When an adult abuses a minor, we need our shields up. A nation that fails to protect its children has no future. Therefore, as long as you insist upon posing a threat, we should respond as such.
"but He is a just God. Some things should not be joked about."
It's worth noting that even the Bible has some interesting comedy. It doesn't quite hold up in today's culture, but there are some very obvious examples of, at the very least, sarcasm. Take, for example, Elijah and the prophets of Baal, as seen in 1 Kings 18:20-40. The blessed prophet challenges Baal's prophets to an experiment: Construct an alter to each god, and the god who lights it himself is the real God. The prophets of Baal were doing all sorts of things to try to make Baal answer, even cutting themselves (the cult of Baal was a very violent and grotesque religion, which included sacrificing children to Baal). Elijah's response? "Perhaps he's on the toilet" (v27). Then, of course, God answers Elijah by fire, proving Himself once and for all, and Elijah has all the prophets of Baal killed.
Paul isn't much kinder to the Judaisers. These people claimed to be Christians, yet preached a works-based salvation, specifically preaching that Christians must still practice circumcision. Paul, in response, says he wishes they would go the full mile and castrate themselves (Galatians 5:12). Well that's not very polite, is it? The Judaisers are still human, after all. And while Paul did say that those who preach a different gospel are accursed (Galatians 1:8), it can be assumed Jesus would prefer their salvation. Yet here, Paul rather explicitly and publicly insults them. The book of Galatians has been public domain for 2,000 years. How many people, preaching the necessity of OT observance, have read this epistle and seen Paul tell them to become eunuchs?
Christ Himself was not short on insults. White washed tombs (Matthew 23:27), brood of vipers (Matthew 3:7), sons of Hell (Matthew 23:15), Jesus wasn't afraid to throw hard-hitting insults at His opponents. However much it may pain Him to condemn a man, He had no qualms about calling that same man to task in highly offensive ways.
"Just remember all sin is equal to Jesus."
This is both a major misinterpretation, and a very dangerous idea. It's dangerous because it can lead to the opposite effect than the desired effect. On the one hand, if stealing a pen is as bad as pedophilia, we may be more opposed to stealing pens. But if pedophilia is equal to stealing a pen, well, we've all stolen a pen. Because of our depraved nature, the simple fact that we do sin means we will begin to view our sins as equally trivial. And of course, knowing that sin starts in the heart, the instant a sin enters our heart, well, all sin is equal, so I may as well act on it, right? It's no worse to sleep with a girl than to look at her with lust, right? Flawed logic, yet the example I just gave is a real one I've heard.
But of course, that wouldn't matter if it was true. If all sin really is equal, the fact that people abuse that truth is irrelevant. So, where do we get the idea that all sin is equal? It comes from James 2:10, which says "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." However, James explains his reasoning: "For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." (v11-12).
This shows us that, rather than all sin being equal, all sin is against God and His law. It's like these two mugs. Notice, the majority of each mug is intact. I can even still drink coffee from them. However, the breaks are not equal. The left mug is missing the entire handle, making it difficult to hold, both due to sharp edges, and the heat of the coffee coming through the sides. By contrast, the handle of the right mug is fully intact. What's missing is a chunk of the rim, meaning it can hold less coffee, and can only be safely drunk from one side.
Because both mugs are broken, I no longer drink from either of them. However, because the breaks are not equal, if I did have to drink from one, I would likely choose the one on the right, simply because it can be held properly.
In much the same way, the law can be broken many ways, but it's the same God who is offended, and the same law that is broken as a result. However, not every break is equal. This is why Scripture is able to distinguish between some sins. Jereboam, for example, did "more evil" than the previous kings (1 Kings 14:9), and Judas' sin is greater than Pilate's (John 19:11). Thus, sin is not equal, the God against whom sin is committed is equal to Himself.
Now, I can find no Scriptures that give a comprehensive hierarchy of sins. However, as the whole law hangs on two commands: Love God, and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40), I believe we can say, based on the complete absence of love in pedophilia, that it is one of, if not the worst sins anyone can commit. Even if we remove the spiritual aspect and focus on the worldly effects, it's self-evident that this is the worst of sins.
With all of that said, it's clear that although the initial meme probably doesn't belong in a comedy group designed exclusively for Christians, it is an entirely appropriate response to the attempted normalisation of pedophilia. We cannot tolerate this abomination, and if we're more concerned about offending pedophiles than protecting children, our priorities are twisted. Pedophiles can be saved, and it is vital to urge them to repent and receive such salvation. If there is something wrong in their mind that keeps them bound to this sin, we must offer our aid. Whatever ministry they need - therapy, medical intervention, prosecution for crimes - we must ensure we get them that help. But make no mistake: Hell awaits the impenitent, and if we are to survive as a society, we need to make this life Hell for all who insist upon threatening the most vulnerable among us.
References
1. Paivi Rasanen: Finnish MP in Bible hate speech trial, BBC, January 24th 2022 (link)