By now, most everyone has heard that the legendary college football coach, Joe Paterno has been fired from Penn State. The reason for Paterno’s firing is his involvement (or lack thereof) in a child molestation case involving one of Paterno’s coaches. Jerry Sandusky, one of Paterno’s assistant coaches is now facing 40 charges in a child sex abuse scandal that allegedly spanned a period of 15 years. The problem for Paterno is that he allegedly knew of at least one case, but didn’t report what he knew to the proper authorities. Grant it, Paterno allegedly reported this crime to Penn State’s Athletic Director, but when he saw the “AD” did not take any action, Paterno did not go to the police.
In short, Paterno was fired for not telling what he knew.
I’ve always been a fan of Jo Paterno. A fellow teammate of mine from my high school basketball team played under Paterno when they won the National Championship. So I take no delight in his career ending in such a fashion. However, this whole affair has set me to thinking. Paterno is in trouble today because he failed to tell what he knew. In light of that, I couldn’t help but raise this question:
How many Christians will someday be in trouble because they too, failed to tell others what they knew? As a child of God, I possess news that is so powerful, that to withhold it is criminal! All I know is that someday when I stand before God, I don’t want to hear him say, “Why didn’t you tell what you knew?”
You Never Mentioned Him To Me
by James Rowe
When in the better land before the bar we stand,
How deeply grieved our souls may (will) be,
If any lost one there should cry in deep despair,
You never mentioned Him to me.
-Steve Higginbotham preaches for the Karns (TN) Church of Christ.
