The Player's Fear in a Post-Patrick Brown World

Having already commented on the Patrick Brown fiasco here, I now reflect further.

The whole spectacle is no doubt making many a man nervous.  Why?  For at least two reasons:

The first reason is that two women anonymously accused Brown of aggressively propositioning them for sex acts while they were alone with him and drunk in his bedroom.  One of the women reciprocated to fulfill his crude request.  When he put the moves on the other woman, she declined so he stopped and drove her home.

The second reason is that a lot of men have actually done what Brown allegedly did, and they've done it many times over.  High school parties.  Hook-up apps.  Clubbing.  May two-four weekends.  Frosh week.  etc. etc. etc.  One friend of mine told me he figured that most his buddies from university spent nearly every weekend doing what Brown is alleged to have done only twice.  They did it because they could.  Way back then, like in early 2017, people tried to hook-up for sport.

So that's why a lot of guys are likely jittery today.  They're looking at Brown and wondering if they're next.  A lot of guys are jittery today.

In the hoary past, like twelve months ago or like twelve years ago or like in 1997 or whenever, people thought they'd get away with this stuff.  The Bible promises you'll reap what you sow.  If you sow sin you reap destruction.  If you sow righteousness you reap peace.  Back when I was a lad, they called these guys players.  They played the women because they wanted to score.  And score they often did.  One guy from my high school was famous for bedding three women in one night.  Many admired him.  It's 2018, so he just might be the next guy branded with the Scarlet Letter.  You reap what you sow.  Sometimes it takes a while.

Sometimes it takes twenty or thirty years.  If Patrick Brown does have a history as a player, as is claimed by two anonymous people, the world had no problem with players back when they say he was as player.  Fast forward to 2018: Disgrace the players!  Shame the players!  Wear that Scarlet Letter you filthy players!  But only a few months ago they were men of renown.   Yes, the devil sure gets his full pound of flesh.  Sin is always a trap.  It just takes some time to realize you're in the trap.

Patrick Brown might have sown something that was socially expected of men when he allegedly sowed it.  Yes, expected!  Boys were boys after all.  Now he's reaping misery for what two anonymous people said he has sown.  Because it's 2018 and now players are anathema.  Do you see how the world changes?

What's praised today is damned tomorrow.  What might people be doing right now that earn them a scarlet letter in 2028, or even 2019 for that matter?  Have you noticed just how fast this all changes?

This is not a new concept by the way.  The same men who believed in the triumph of the Third Reich were hanged at Nuremberg.  The promise of Soviet glory crumbled with the Berlin wall.  Southern slaves were set free.  Bernie Madoff went to jail.  When we sow wickedness we reap destruction, even if we sow the wickedness in a time when wickedness prospers.  There was a time when players were heroes.  Today the allegation of being a player earns you the Scarlet Letter to wear while you wander eastward.

I'm old enough to remember when it was cool to be a player.  And anyone born since yesterday has now lived to see the day where every alleged player—yes, *alleged* player—fears for his reputation and livelihood.

What the world called being a player back then, God called sin back then.  The world is screaming at it today, and God still calls it sin.

What was sin back then is still sin today.

The Jesus who was the Friend of sinners back then is still the Friend of sinners today.

Unlike this cruel world, God is the LORD and He does not change.  He is not tossed to and fro like the waves of the sea.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  And He pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant.  He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  If you're afraid of tomorrow, you can turn to the Lord.  His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Jesus Christ will remove your stains.  He died for sinners.  He bore your Scarlet Letter.  And He's your only safe space.

To all the jittery players, and to all the jittery people who fear allegations, the Saviour invites you: "Come now and let us reason together.  Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make you white as snow."

"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.  But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him" (Psalm 103:16-17).

"For I the LORD your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you'" (Isaiah 41:13).