My Ashley Madison Account Is Under Somebody Else’s Name
I am certain quite a few of us have been curious about the events in the wake of the Ashley Madison hack. For those who don’t yet know, 39 million users of a website that facilitates extramarital affairs had their names and account details displayed on the internet for the rest of the online world to ogle at. Soon enough, the Christian/ Catholic/ Protestant/ Evangelical Ashley Madison sub-list came pouring out on the internet.
Like someone from one of the Marg churches recently mentioned, it was heart-breaking to hear of popular Christian personalities like Josh Duggar’s name of the Duggar family and viral Christian vlogger Sam Rader’s name showing up on that dreaded list.
They were just the icing on that distasteful cake Christians around the world had to eat.
Nearly 400 Christian pastors and workers have been on the hacked list so far.
Ashley Madison is the poster child of internet gone ugly and unsafe. It’s like an apartment that has really thin walls – hardly anything can stay a secret for long. I do not know how many fellow Indian users have registered at Ashley Madison. To my mind, at one level it doesn’t matter. When studies show that 91% of sexually assaulted women in Mumbai were raped by someone they knew, I know we have different demons and other perversions to fight in our homes and schools.
Be Worried About The Expose That Matters
What if I was on that exposed Ashley Madison list?
Sam Rader is younger than me. He is a Christian, a husband and a father. So am I. Mercifully, Rader had revealed this matter to his God, his wife, and his Church, who he claims have forgiven him. I wonder how would it have been if I was the one who paid to have an account to thrill myself to spiritual vileness.
What if I had tried Ashley Madison?
I might have had done so, in one of my many moments of despicable rebellion against my dear Saviour and Lord Jesus. How would have my wife reacted to the sudden knowledge of my hidden infidelity?
What would our church members in Wanowrie think of the matter? What about my parents, sister, and friends on Facebook?
I can imagine, but I can not really know. I do not have an Ashley Madison account. But I have lusted, and worse.
The Trinity of Lust, Regret and Exposure are one of my worst enemies while I bid my time here on earth. But I also know that if I was one of the spouses exposed out there, my fears will be about what my near and dear people would think of me, and what my worst adversaries would think of me.
It will bother me only later usually, that I have not taken this violation before the God of the universe. That I have not confessed this matter to the One who calls himself the lover and Bridegroom of God’s people, the church.
This reminds me of a statement from the Gospel DNA series Wanowrie church is going through- God is the Most Offended Party.
Unless we see God as the most offended party, we will not hate our sin.
My Ashley Madison Account is in ____ Name
It is true that these shameful acts have shattered and will shatter spouses and reputations across the world, and drag the name of Jesus Christ through the mud. But if my heart truly belongs to the Lord, I will not bother so much about whether my scandal will cost my reputation, job or marriage, precious as they are.
Even if my account name stays hidden for life, I would more than cringe every time I am reminded of the sins I indulged in. Because I know I’ve dared to violate the Holy one who dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16).
The Ashley Madison hack and all the exposes that have happened in the past and will happen in the future, are only a pre-school scaled prelude to God’s Final Expose at the End of Days of which the Lord Jesus says, “Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. (Luke 12:3)”
If I ever had an Ashley Madison account, I know that when I bring it before God for cleansing and in repentance, God would see someone else’s name in the hacker list– His name is Jesus.
Though He was without sin, my act of sin, that very thought of rebellion would be assigned – tragically to the Son of God – who loved me and gave himself up for me! Because God laid all my sins on Him, He who offered up his life for anyone who comes needing and begging to Him for the waters of eternal life!
Yes, even for people like me!! Oh, the depth of humbling in Christ. Arggh, the depth of uselessness of my ugly desires!
My prayer for my own soul and for those embroiled in this scandal is that since I have been crucified with Christ, I no longer live but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20). That I would consider the eternal importance and value of my relationship with Jesus, and would live today, this hour, like He lived.
Oh God!! May this be, now and until I see Your face!
If your name shows up in the next Ashley Madison kind of hack, what would your first knee-jerk reaction be?
Share your thoughts.
Recommended Reading
What should I do if my pastor is on the Ashley Madison list? By Ed Stetzer