MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Sister of John Edward’s Mistress: “My Sister is Not Promiscuous”

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, August 11, 2008
Viewed 57
(9) comments so far

I see this tendency of not calling sin what it is many times in the church as well; and quite frankly, it turns my stomach. Many times we preach of the sin; but fail to call it out when we see it in practice.

And in some cases (as in Edwards), our leaders ‘live the lie’.

I watched the interview on Nightline with Edwards. I thought the first part of his confession was heartfelt and honest. But when they got to the parts of the financial payoff and the picture of him holding the baby; it seemed he was less than forthcoming.

Anyone else see the interview? What was your opinion?

OK... this has to be the quote of the day (or maybe month!). If you've watched any TV over the weekend, you now know that John Edward has admitted to having an affair with a former campaign worker. Well, in an article over at the Washington Post, the sister of Edward's mistress speaks up about the treatment her sister has gotten:

"She is a good and honest person, the sweetest and most caring woman one could ever hope to meet. Do you think it's easy for us to just sit back and let everyone rip her to shreds and not defend her honor?" She then went on to say that her sister (the mistress) was being falsely portrayed as a "promiscuous person".

Nevermind the fact that she slept with a married man; then within months, had another affair and got pregnant with another man's baby out of wedlock.

I'm not exactly sure what I'd call that other than promiscous. In fact, that's probably a nice way to put it. It has nothing to do with her sweetness, kindness, or likeability.

Comments

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Kevin Bussey on Mon, August 11, 2008

It is just sad. It happens on both sides of the aisle too. Newt wasn’t exactly Mr. Purity. I think that power without accountability is dangerous. This is a lesson for me.
Peter Hamm on Mon, August 11, 2008

I find the timing interesting, too. The GOP might be hoping this hurts the Dems overall, but I’m not sure it will. Boy, if Edwards had gotten the nom or been named running mate… might be a different story.

But yeah, if that’s not “promiscuous” what is?
Pat on Mon, August 11, 2008

Exactly! This wasn’t a woman who was with someone that she didn’t know was married. Yet, she’s described as “honest” and as having “made a mistake”. Really sad. Even sadder, what about the baby who is going to grown up under a shroud of doubt and innuendo about who her father is?
Josh R on Mon, August 11, 2008

John Edward’s statement in part: “Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough.”

Everything is relative I suppose?
Evan Blackerby on Mon, August 11, 2008

The thing that irks me is that though we fail call sin “sin”..... we also treat people who don’t believe in Christ to the standards of those who follow Christ. If people don’t believe, then how can we hold one another accountable in love. There is no common accountability ground. It is a tough battle to fight.

They are all victims and accomplices…

Do they have a reason to change their lives? Do they have a relationship, a true one (not just a publicized one), with a Rescuer?

I see what you are saying. Just a tough one.
CS on Mon, August 11, 2008

This story underscores the reaction of people to their sin nature. It’s kind of like the recently-published When Good People Have Affairs. The mistress’s sister likely sees her sister as a good person who has made mistakes along the way, instead of as a sinful person who needs to be saved. It’s sad, all around, really.

—

CS
Dan Moore on Mon, August 11, 2008

“She is a good and honest person, the sweetest and most caring woman one could ever hope to meet. Do you think it’s easy for us to just sit back and let everyone rip her to shreds and not defend her honor?”

Defend her honor? I’m puzzled by that point as well as her “honesty.” If she were an honorable woman, she would not have had the affair. She did not honor herself by her actions. Why was she paid by Mr. Edwards? Blackmail? Hush money? The list goes on.

No. I’m not going to shred her. I just look at her actions. They point to her condition. She reminds me of the woman in Samaria whom Jesus met ... the one divorced 5 times and living with a man. That woman found the Rescuer. So does this woman.

We should pray for all individuals involved in this situation that there would be true repentance, forgiveness, salvation, and restoration.
Craig on Mon, August 11, 2008

We all find it so easy to over look our own sin. If you ask somebody what are you called if you lie? The answer could hear is very wide. Yet, if you ask that same person what would you call me if I lied to you? Then you almost always get “A Liar” for an answer.

A little twist for a question, what happens if something like this comes out on one of the two current major president canadiates?
DanielR on Tue, August 12, 2008

I’m not sure what to make of this woman; so much odd stuff seems to be coming out about her. Not promiscuous? I don’t know about that.

A couple of things I saw in this mess that I did like was how Edwards appeared before the press without dragging his innocent wife into the spotlight with him. In his interview with ABC he said, “I have seen these public figures who bring their wives along when they say they’ve done something wrong; confessing some wrong and the wife - they bring their wives to stand beside them I guess, to show support…Elizabeth didn’t do anything wrong. I not only didn’t ask for her to be here. I asked for her not to be here. Uh, this is my responsibility; my alone. I have to be the man and take responsibility.

I don’t need a shield. I know how widely admired Elizabeth is. I’m fully aware of that. But she should not be involved in protecting me from whatever the consequences are. This I needed to do alone…”

Also, if he’s telling the truth he didn’t wait to get caught to tell his wife. In my opinion the media and everyone else can pound sand, shielding his wife from as much of the media madness as he can is the right thing to do and it’s the covenant between him, his wife, and God that he needs to be focused on repairing, not his public/political image.