But the Lord of hosts will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness. –Isa.5:16

The weather had cooperated famously.  We were three days out in the Smokies backcountry with blue skies, cool temperatures, and the last trace of those dry days that manage to find us from out of the far north every late spring.  In our group, we had four young RECA students trying out their legs on a 29 mile hike that wound its way around some of the most unvisited and remote corners of the park.  Everyone had done well in keeping up the pace and distance and were proving themselves to be able backpackers.  We had traveled and camped alone and met but very few hikers out in the backwoods.  Each morning and night we shared the Word around the campfire and regaled ourselves with stories, jokes, games, and that rich fellowship which only believers can know.  It was as good as backpacking gets.

Our last day took us back to civilization as we walked out along the Abrams Falls Trail with a planned lunch stop at those beautiful falls.  We were the first ones there that morning and had a few minutes of quiet solitude before the Saturday crowd started to arrive.  Lunch on the trail is always a favorite time of mine and to experience it with a view is a special treat.  As we sat strung out along the edge of the water munching on our snacks, I was somewhat alone finishing my snacks and looking forward to taking a dip in the cool waters.  Two students were already in, and I was not about to let them be the only ones.  It was the right time and temperature where one could just wade in fully dressed confident of drying off all too quickly as we would finish our hike back to the waiting van.  

With no warning, we were suddenly assaulted by a view none of us needed to see.  A young and comely lady had slipped out of her clothes wearing the bare minimum of what passed for a swimsuit and was parading slowly into the waters in front of us.  One minute I was at peace with the world, but the next I was doing battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil.  In truth, my spirit was being assaulted and abused by a naïve stranger who had no right to spoil all that was pure and right and holy that day.  It was a moment of helpless vulnerability to the thoughtlessness of another.   I am sure we all tried not to notice and to keep ourselves from staring, but the spectacle was unavoidable.  We finished up and left sooner than I would have wanted, and I had to wrestle with this disturbance in the force that tore into an otherwise perfect trip.

I was convicted just a short while later of what I should have done.  Everything in our culture screams against this, but I think we have a right, nay, an obligation to speak out publicly when we are confronted with such a voyeuristic display.  I was responsible in bringing out several young people into the wild where had I coached them about the dangers of snakes and bears.  I would have vigorously defended them against any such attack.  Watch out.  Next time I will be just as proactive against spiritual attack, and it could get embarrassing.  Don’t stand too close.  “Young lady, I have brought some young men out here to contemplate God’s creation and think on higher things.  They don’t need to see you like that.  I don’t need to see you like that.  Could you please wait until we are gone or get under the water and stay there?”

The world these days revels in Matthew 7:1, “judge not that ye be not judged.”  It is the spirit of our age.  Whatever goes on in public is none of our business to frown upon in any way.  All men (and women) are entitled to do whatever is right in their own eyes.  Ripping this one verse out of the context of the whole scriptures is just not sustainable.  Judging between good and evil is the heart and soul of God’s Word and flows from Genesis to Revelation.  Speaking out against evil should come as natural as the three young men standing before the fiery furnace.  Condemnation is God’s job, not ours.  But He expects us to raise a voice of resilient protest when we are made, through no fault of our own, co-participants in any scene involving unrighteousness.  If nothing else, we speak with our feet.  But we can open our mouths to call attention to the presence and reality of God in any situation especially where we or those in our care are coming under attack.  Make no mistake.  A stark, visual appearance can be an attack even if no words are said. 

I was saddened by a group of teen-aged Christian girls who showed up to help at a ministry center this past week dressed in the skimpiest shorts imaginable.  The youth leader stood by mute and unnoticing.  Parental judgment was obviously lacking.  We can do better.  We must do better.  Our Lord is exalted in judgment.  He shows himself holy in righteousness.  We can honor Him by having the courage to exercise some good judgment.  Our culture sure won’t.