Once again Britain’s Prince Harry has shown his seedier side and lack of moral discretion. Pictures of him in the nude cavorting with a partially naked woman have once again shown him to be in moral bankruptcy. Sorry, I would have expected more from a"prince," or even a mature young man.
Now I understand such behavior is promoted as the norm for young men by the media and Hollywood, the so-called, "playboy mentality," but it is definitely a sad commentary on our times and shows the continued moral decline in society when such behavior is laughed at, shrugged off, or applauded. According to reports he has received, “thousands of twitters from celebrities” congratulating him. No surprise there. The Apostle Paul wrote long ago of sinners who “... not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Rom.1:32
Editor-in-Chief, Ingrid Seward, of Majesty, writes; “I think that’s what people love about Harry.” If that’s the case, people need to watch something other than Bachelor Pad and Jersey Shore for role models.
I feel sorry for Harry. Here is a young man at 27 (not a Lad), who has so much by inheritance, who should have the maturity and wisdom to know better and the strength of character to live a more virtuous life, but continues to fail and show himself (excuse the pun) for what he really is. Is it too much to expect a young man and especially a "prince" to be chaste and to behave with discretion, virtue, dignity and honor? There is a verse in Scripture which reads, “To whom much is given, much is required.” That seems especially apropos in this situation.
Regardless of the amoral agenda Hollywood and the Media pushes, there are many parents, (royalty and the British military as well), that find such behavior offensive. Against the stream, their children are raised in a moral environment and exercise a self-control and a maturity one only wishes a "prince" would show. A better example would be the ‘Prince of Egypt’, Joseph of the Bible. Rather than give in to the seductive temptations of Potiphar’s wife, he fled, and kept himself from sin. Eventually, God blessed him by raising him to second in all of Egypt. Asking ourselves, “Which example do I want my children to emulate?” and the answer one gives, will clearly mark which side of the moral divide one stands.
But I also prayed for Harry. I prayed that he might come to see his need for repentance and to live for God rather than self. For we are all sinners, myself included, but God is a forgiving God. Paul writes in his Letter to the Ephesians, Ch.2:1-6 of how God can change things when we turn from sin and to Him.
“It wasn’t long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose His temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made them alive in Christ.”
After all, some day he may be asked on oath; “Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel?” The sooner, the better.
I think the going rate for betrayal is 30 coins of silver.
We agree on much. The lack of parental responsibility in the arena of moral upbringing is a destructive and growing concern. But let's be cautious about being too inclusive. Many parents and single parents are making a admirable effort to instill morals and values and faith in their children and should be applauded and helped. I just read this; We need to teach our daughters the difference, between a man who flatters them, and a man who compliments her. A man who spends money on her, and a man who invests in her. A man who views her as property, and a man who views her properly; A man who lusts after her, and a man who loves her; A man who believes he is God's gift to women, and one who remembers a woman was God's gift to Man; And to teach our sons to be that kind of man..." And fathers, the best teaching is by example!
Your are right, he has done many good things. However, those were not the subject of the incident. I always admire virtue when and where I see it and encourage such. When there is fault it should not be swept under the rug. "A refusal to correct is a refusal to love..." Prov.13:24a And I daily thank God for the grace of forgiveness which comes to the repentant.
In my response to Tim, I think you read the author's very positive comment through a negative lens. To treat a woman with respect, dignity, encouragement and tenderhearted care, as one would a precious 'gift', can't help but empower. I know I have thanked God nearly every day for the 'gift' of my wife, and that's 43 years.
It must be easy to judge a young man who grew up in a fishbowl facing many pressures we never had to face including losing his mother at a young age and having to share his grief publicly. Everything for this man has been public. He isn't a celebrity by choice and it is heartening to see a man of the cloth define him by one bad moment while tempering it by saying that you weren’t How wonderful that you prayed for him. We need more condescending prayers in this world. The fact that anyone who is essentially a stranger would feel that they should be the judge of another person and should offer public condemnations and prayers for repentance saddens me. I’m sure there are many others more in need of prayers. I will pray that you learn more tolerance and compassion.
On the flip side, wouldn't it of been a great story for the Prince to understand he is a fishbowl and take that opportunity to show himself as a dignified individual and show how someone in his position can help the world be a better place. Great men take opportunity to prove themselves no matter who is watching or who cares. Reminds me of the famous quote of the great Yankee Joe D "There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, I owe him my best."
He wasn't there in an official capacity and deserved downtime to be enjoyed privately. Joe D had some great quotes but I wonder if his personal life would pass today's scrutiny. With cameras everywhere and so-called friends and family members willing to sell your dirt to tabloids. No human was perfect and not all of our existence can be reduced to a great sound bite.
I’ve read some of your other blogs and found we agree on a number of things. This is not one so, if I may respond. First, In my blog I did not condemn him. To condemn is to offer no hope. I offered hope and expressed sadness. Second, I agree with you that his betrayal by his ‘friend‘ was a tragedy. But I consider both actions, the prince’s and his friend, tragedies. Why chose one and not the other? And since you consider the betrayal ‘far worse’, are you not making a moral judgement also? We all make moral judgements. The difference is in the criteria or standard we use to evaluate them. Third, You speak against my ‘judging’, but why do you jump to judge that my prayer was condescending? Has no one ever prayed for you in a non-condescending manner? I sincerely hope so. Fifth, judging and compassion are not mutually exclusive. When the religious leaders brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus, and after he dispatched the leaders, Jesus said, “Then neither do I condemn you” (compassion) “Go and leave your life of sin.” (Judgement). Both were for her good. In praying for me to be more tolerant. If by tolerant you mean ‘more accepting’ of immoral or offensive behaviors, please don’t. I believe that attitude and misunderstanding of tolerance has taken us into this moral quagmire and I would not want to contribute to that. But prayers for compassion would be well received. (non-condescending one's of course.)
You wrote a blog that basically called him out and in your words, "Once again Britain’s Prince Harry has shown his seedier side and lack of moral discretion. Pictures of him in the nude cavorting with a partially naked woman have once again shown him to be in moral bankruptcy. Sorry, I would have expected more from a"prince," or even a mature young man." That sounds harsh. You asked if my considering the betrayal of selling out a person's privacy is a judgment, and yes, it is. I never claimed it wasn’t. I am, after all, human. We live in a world in which people sell each other out forgetting that we are all human and that we are all entitled to our bad day, although Prince Harry looked like he wasn't having such a bad day until one of his guests sold him out. His actions were not meant to be viewed by you or me. He doesn't owe either of us an explanation or an apology so for you to pray for him to repent is condescending whether you meant it to be or not. His private time is just that, his private time. Prince Harry doesn't need to abide by your moral code nor does he have to live up to your expectations. You say we agree on other things and that is fine. On this, we probably never will.