Whistleblowers

If you keep up with sports like I do, you are sure to notice a disturbing trend lately.  It’s all the so-called whistleblowers, people who come forward and point an incriminating finger at someone who has done wrong.  Tuesday it was an anonymous friend of former Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor who says that he personally witnessed Pryor getting paid cash for his signing of OSU memorabilia.  Just recently it was Tyler Hamilton who pointed an accusing finger at cyclist Lance Armstrong, saying that they both had used illegal PED’s previously.  Before that it was Floyd Landis saying the same thing about Armstrong.

If these allegations are indeed true, then I am glad that they were made because God is a god of truth and He wants it be known.  Unfortunately, it seems that there are ulterior motives for all these sudden displays of honesty.  In the case of Terelle Pryor, the accusations came from a former friend who no longer likes him.  Hmmm, let me think about that one.  Could jealousy be the reason he is coming out with these allegations now?  Or is it revenge?  As for Hamilton & Landis, they only made allegations against Armstrong after they were both caught doping.  Let’s think about that one, too.  Could these allegations also be the result of jealousy or vindictiveness?  Or do they now stand to make all kinds of money from some publisher for a tell-all book?

The problem I have with all these suddenly-honest-accusers coming forward is this - why didn’t they blow the whistle when the alleged crime was actually taking place?  If what was being done was wrong, why wait?  Why wait until later, sometimes years later, and then make the accusations?  It appears that none of the three above accusers had any scruples with what was going on when it was happening.  Isn't this being an accomplice?  This means that they should bear some of the guilt as well.  Beside this, in my opinion, when people come forward long after the event in question, they lose some of their credibility.  Now all kinds of questions begin to surface about their delay in coming forward and what their motivation might be.

In James 4:17 we are clearly told "Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."  Among other things, what this means is that each of us has the responsibility to speak up when something unlawful or evil is happening.  We can't be silent and look the other way, thinking that we have done nothing wrong.  In the words of Edmund Burke, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Lord, help me to be a person of integrity.  When I see a situation where things are happening that are not right give me the courage and the boldness to speak out, right then.  Then help me to be a conduit of Your forgiveness, grace and mercy.  In Jesus' name, Amen.