Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno is no longer the head football coach at Penn State. The long-time coach, a living legend in college football, was fired because of his role in a sex scandal that has recently come to light. While Paterno was not involved in the original wrong-doing, it was determined that he did not do what should have been done to bring justice in the matter and to protect children from future abuses from a known sexual predator.

No one envisioned such an end to what has been an illustrious career. Paterno has succeeded in his field and has won the admiration of many people for the classy way he has conducted himself and for running a squeaky clean program at Penn State. Now his legacy is forever tarnished, and his golden years will be lived under a dark cloud that will never go away. Many people will forget the good that Paterno did for so many years, and will focus on this one terrible blunder that ultimately cost him his job.

Jesus says, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48).

This should be a lesson to everyone who is in a leadership position, especially in the church. We have been entrusted with the spiritual welfare of the people under our care. We are responsible for their well-being. Therefore, we must do everything in our power to protect them. We can never let our guard down, nor can we ignore evil.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do got give up.”—Galatians 6:9.