The Courage to Protect, the Grace to Grieve

Written By Lindsay Andrews

Ending What Is Evil

A Monthly Publication of the Church Ambassador Network

We find ourselves in a season where the lines of common decency are not just being blurred; they are being intentionally erased. Pastors are called to be shepherds who protect the flock, but they are also called to be ministers of a Gospel that seeks to redeem the broken. Today, we face a difficult reality in our own backyard regarding the safety of our wives and daughters and the spiritual state of our neighbors.

The Apostle Paul gives us a clear mandate in Romans 12:9: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” In a world that often confuses "love" with "blanket affirmation," we must remember that true pastoral love is never indifferent to evil. To love our neighbors—especially the most vulnerable among us—means we must have the courage to confront the behaviors that put them at risk.

The Current Reality 

In recent weeks, the Ohio House of Representatives took a significant step by passing House Bill 249. This legislation is a response to a disturbing trend where adult fetishes and indecent exposure have begun to invade the very spaces where women and children should feel most secure: locker rooms, bathrooms, and changing areas. HB249 aims to modernize our laws to ensure that public indecency is clearly defined and that our children are protected from sexually charged displays in private quarters.

The necessity of this bill was underscored by the tragic situation involving Darren “Rachel” Glines at a local YMCA. Darren was found not guilty of public indecency after staring at and engaging young girls in conversation while naked in the local YMCA locker room. Under current law, because there is no clear definition of "exposure," no charges could be sustained. HB249 ensures that such gross injustices never happen in Ohio again. 

While the headlines often focus on the legal battle, as pastors, we see a deeper spiritual battle.

Recognizing the Depth of the Tragedy

When we speak of "ending what is evil," we recognize that the young girls who are left feeling unsafe and violated in their private spaces are the primary victims. We speak the truth for their sake. As it says in Proverbs 31:8, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”

We must also recognize that men like Darren Glines are the tragic victims of a culture that has abandoned the Truth. Our society has lied to these men, telling them that acting out their deepest confusions and fetishes is the path to "authenticity" and "freedom." Instead, it has led them into a cycle of exploitation and public shame.

As the great C.S. Lewis wrote in The Abolition of Man:

"We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful." (C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man)

When a culture loses its moral compass, everyone suffers. We do not stand in judgment from a place of superiority, but from a place of grief. We want the exploitation to stop—not just for the safety of the children, but for the restoration of the men who have been swallowed up by these harmful ideologies.

Speaking Truth in Love

Our churches must be the loudest voices calling for the passage of HB249. We must protect the "least of these" from being exposed to adult fetishes. But as we do, let our tone be marked by the "courageous grace" of Christ. We hate the evil because of the damage it does to human souls—both the victim and the perpetrator.

Let us stand firm, Ohio. Let us demand that our laws reflect the reality of human dignity and the necessity of public decency.

Practical Steps for the Ohio Pastor

  1. Educate Your Congregation: Help your members understand that legislation like HB249 is a biblical matter of stewardship and protection of the vulnerable. Read more about the bill here.

  2. Contact Your State Senator: Now that the bill has passed the House, it moves to the Senate. Use this link to contact your Senator and share why, as a religious leader in their district, you believe this protection is vital for the flourishing of families.

  3. Foster a Culture of Redemptive Truth: In your counseling and preaching, address the brokenness of modern gender and fetish culture with compassion. Create a space where those struggling with these issues can find the Truth of the Gospel without fear of being discarded, while maintaining firm boundaries for the safety of the flock.

Join the Movement

Lindsay Andrews
Next

The Church’s Role in Restoring the Foundation of Family