Where is our moral compass when it comes to pedophilia?

The media reporting of the unhappy residents of Ryde protesting about convicted pedophile Dennis Ferguson setting up home in their suburb has raised many interesting ethical issues. For example: 1. Should society forgive Dennis Ferugson? He's done his time and paid his dues. Why is pedophilia the unforgivable sin and where does the moral basis to make this decision come from? What about our moral failings? 2. Is morality relative to time and culture? 50 years ago homosexuality was considered a sin and a crime, but today it's just a lifestyle choice. Maybe in 50 years time pedophilia will be accepted as OK as moral values become more liberal. Are there such things as 'moral absolutes' that are wrong in every generation? And who decides? 3. Are humans good and able to improve? Is it possible to rehabilitate a pedophile? Or are we slaves to our foibles and unable to change? The Bible's view is that God is the ultimate determiner of good and evil. He made us and he makes the rules of what is right and wrong (see Genesis 1-3). So there are absolutes in every generation. Secondly the Bible teaches that "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23) and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). In the eyes of a Holy God, pedophilia is no worse than lusting in your heart after someone elses husband or wife (Mark 7:20-23). Thirdly, the Bible recognises the reality that people are slaves to sin (Romans 7:14). Yes we should be worried about someone with a history of pedophilia living in our suburb. But the Bible also gives hope that we can be freed from the power of sin through Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24-25). So if you're looking for some moral certainty, some real forgiveness for your sins and some power to overcome evil desires, read the Bible and find our more about Jesus Christ. The Bible is our compass guiding us on hard ethical issues and showing the path to being in right standing with our holy maker.

Should we worry about politicians private lives?

I heard a NSW Greens senator on radio 702 yesterday commenting on the Della Bosca affair. She dragged out the old line that a politicians private life has nothing do with how they perform their public duties and that it's none of our business what goes on behind closed doors.

But the Sydney Morning Herald today quoted the woman involved in the affair (Kate) as saying: ''If he is capable of lying to his wife and children … why wouldn't he do that in other aspects of his career?''

The logic is inescapable!

One of my most embarrassing moments

As the main organiser of our group of 30 going to the Engage conference last weekend I made a point of getting to the YHA early. We paid extra to have our own private lounge and kitchen area. As I stood in the spacious lounge and dining area by myself, the guy from the YHA came in and started setting up breakfast, laying out the breakfast cereals on a table in the dining area. As he was plugging in the toasters he warned me not to burn toast. Apparently a group staying there recently had set off the smoke alarms which meant that the YHA had to be evacuated until the fire brigade could arrive and turn off the alarm. 10 minutes after receiving this warning ........ have a guess what happened?

Yes, you guessed it. I was in the kitchen microwaving my soup, with toast cooking in the dining area, when suddenly the alarm went off with a loud 'whooping sound' and the entire YHA had to be evacuated. I stood sheepishly out the front of the YHA in the crowd. It seemed an eternity until the fire trucks arrived to deal with my disaster of smoky toast.

As I stood in the crowd I thought .... "should I yell out ..... its OK everyone..... everything's fine, I only burnt the toast. ..... but I didn't. I kept quiet and just wanted to shrink into a crack in the pavement and disappear.

This goes down as one of my most embarrassing moments! Please don't tell anyone.