The news out of State College is not getting any better.

While the child abuse testimony was horrifying, the recent revelations show a different kind of evil. There seems to be no end to the maneuvering, concealing, and face-saving by those who were in charge. At best, these characters were putting the institution’s interests ahead of the safety of children. At worst, they were enabling the atrocities of a monster.

How quickly these words can come to pass:

“Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment to give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” (Ecclesiastes 10:1)

One turn of a blind eye… one decision to leave the police out… one conversation that results in covering over details… and folly brings down a lifetime of wisdom and honor. Already, the folly of those decisions has damaged lives. Who can tell how much of a shadow will linger over the university?

The important question to ask as we see these events unfold is: what would I have done? Would I have risked my job or the reputation of my company to stop something like this? Would I make a stand for the truth and protect the victims? Would I be willing to sweep some facts under the rug if I was told to do so?

As God’s people, we simply cannot compromise. No human institution should have us so tightly in its grasp that we sacrifice our integrity. God would rather we suffer than to be at ease in the wrong:

“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be god’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17)

Even when there are no innocent victims, followers of Christ are called to stand for the truth. It only takes a little folly to shipwreck a life of wisdom and honor.