What Every Christian Should Remember about Jeffrey Epstein and His Story

Hundreds of pages of documents begin to be released related to Jeffrey Epstein and those who were named in the court filings from a defamation lawsuit brought against Ghislaine Maxwell by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre in 2015, after she branded her a liar over her claims that she was sexually abused as a minor. Over the next weeks, an additional 170 names or so are to be released as contained somewhere in these documents, hereto now having been referred to as John or Jane Does, beginning with Jane Doe #3. A New York judge determined to release the unredacted court filings, the first of which dropped January 3. Social media and news outlets were inundated with stories related to the information drop. Related to this news story, today’s blog explores what every Christian should remember about Jeffrey Epstein and his story.

Background Observations

Over the many years of following Jesus Christ, I have observed many fellow Christians who love Hollywood stars, lifestyle shows, and following the rich and famous. These Christians pay attention to what they do, who they are with, where they go, where they live, what they wear, and about what they care. When the rich and famous advertise a particular brand, the fellow Christian pays attention and may even favor that particular brand. When lifestyle news drops, the fellow Christian reads and knows all about it. YouTube, Instagram, and other social media becomes the gathering place for information as they peek into what the fellow Christian can learn about the rich and famous’ lives. Reality shows, wedding pics, galas, the Oscars, the Grammys, and many other social events are often viewed in a way to learn, participate with, and engage the rich and famous.

Along the way, the fellow Christian tends to “follow” these individuals, listen to them, allow these people to share their life values, and, as it were, participate with them in life. What these people say matters, what they do impresses, and what they emphasize becomes important.

Enter Jeffrey Epstein. He died in prison awaiting trial for various sex crimes. He catered to the rich, powerful, and famous. Allegedly, famous people would go to his houses, apartments, and islands where they would participate on various levels with both very young girls and underaged girls sexually, usually beginning with illicit massages. Many rich and famous individuals have been accused to sexual abuse, sexual infidelity, and sexual misconduct, although only Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein have been charged.

Three Truths Every Christian Should Remember about Jeffrey Epstein and His Story

In this milieu, I would like to remind fellow Christians of three important truths. As a pastor and brother in Christ, I am burdened by what I see. It surprises me how enamored fellow Christians become of the rich and famous. Yet, this is not new. Fellow pastor-types for years have warned us of these things.

First, the world system steals your resources.

In a hard verse to translate, Asaph describes what has him so angry about those who are worldly. In this description, Asaph describes all the negativity and destruction of those who are in the world and of the world – those who mock God. In total frustration, he writes, “Therefore His people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them” (Psalm 73:10). Seemingly this passage teaches even though the worldly make such a mockery of God and parade around in arrogance, God’s people still keep coming back to them as God’s people get all their resources drained by the rich and famous.

What resources do the rich and famous drain from God’s people? All kinds. Money: God’s people buy what they model, sell, make famous. They influence our tastes, desires, and what we treasure. These individuals also rob us of our time, attention, and energy. Instead of engaging with other Christ-followers, paying attention to their needs, serving someone, reading the Bible, praying, etcetera, the fellow Christians wastes time and energy on “following” individuals, reading about them, watching them, desiring what they have, and living by proxy through them. Along the way, the Christian’s resources are drained by the very person who mocks and hates God. Therefore, resources of time, focus, care, energy, rest, finances, and so forth get wasted on the world and not used effectively as good stewards of the manifold grace of God on Him, the body of Jesus Christ, or serving one’s community.

Second, the Christ-follower’s focus reflects in what he or she delights.

The psalmist makes it clear in the very first psalm:

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

Notice how the psalmist emphasizes that the truly happy person, who is in an intimate relationship with God, walks not, nor stands, nor sits with those in the world system (here, known as ungodly, sinners, or scornful). The psalmist emphasizes that the Christ-follower does not follow the plans of the ungodly (counsel), the lifestyle of the ungodly (path), nor take on the values of the ungodly (seat). In other words, as those happy in our relationship with God, we turn away from these things – arguably in totality.

Instead, our delight is in the Word of God and with the God of the Word. As we would delight over a delicious delicacy (like ice cream with sprinkles), we delight in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. We are drawn to Him, enjoy His Word, meditate on it, and rejoice in it. In other words, the Bible and God of the Bible are the focus of our delight.

Maybe this is why so many Christians are not happy.

Third, what you love impacts the sanctification process.

Please notice these two key passages.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

In both these texts, the meaning is similar. As Christians, we should not love the world or what is in the world because what we love impacts us. If you love the world and pay attention to the world, you will be conformed by it. Not intentionally. You will not actively choose to be conformed by it; instead, it will be a gradual process. It will impact your passion, your energy, and your desire for the things of the Lord.

Instead, the Apostle Paul emphasizes that your intentional choice (and only reasonable choice based upon God’s love and mercy on you) should be to be transformed through the impact of the Word of God on you.

In other words, either you will allow God’s Word to transform you for the glory of God, OR you will allow the world to conform you to the world’s image.

Therefore, we are not to love all that is in the world.

Allow the story of Jeffrey Epstein to remind you of what’s truly important

Therefore, dear follower of Jesus Christ, all the story of Jeffrey Epstein to remind you of what’s truly important in your life. The people of the world should not be what is truly important to you. The things of the world should not be. We can keep going – the values of the world, etcetera. Instead, be delighted in Jesus Christ, His Word, and His people. Use your energy to serve Him, His body, and those to whom you want to impact with the Gospel.

This story of Jeffrey Epstein reminds us of what is absolutely true – the world is passing away and everything in it. The lifestyle of the rich and famous is empty, encourages dissatisfaction, and leaves you lusting for more. And, my friend, “more” can take you down roads you would never dream of – like, in this case, incredible sexual sins and alleged sexual misconduct.

Bonus 1:

One other note! We should remember to be humble whenever we hear these things as well. But for the grace of God, go one of us (1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 1:1-5).

Bonus 2:

And, another thing… when we spend all our time in the world system following the rich and famous, we are essentially participating in pure gossip. We listen to it from what we read and watch, and we pass it on.