"I know it's been

a rough week on everybody. And what occurred was unintentional, completely

regrettable, and I apologize if you guys were offended."

Those were the words of Justin

Timberlake as he accepted a Grammy at Sunday night's musical awards

show. Timberlake accepted the award for best male pop vocal performance

in "Cry Me a River."

As he made his remarks, Timberlake

was genuine and sincere. As he accepted his award, he appeared truly humbled

Unless you just arrived from

another planet, you should know to what Timberlake was alluding, the thing

that "occurred" and that was "unintentional," and

that was "completely regrettable." He was referring to the ripping

off of Janet Jackson's costume revealing her right breast for an

international television audience.

The incident has given the

television network such a case of the shakes that the whole event was

put on a five minute delay. Everything we saw Sunday night was history

that was offensive in nature.

Personally, I believe Timberlake

and accept his apology. Certainly I could spend another two or three weeks

dwelling on the "unintentional" aspect of his apology. The bottom

line is that the young man made a mistake of epic proportions and has

apologized for it. Time to move on. In his way, he accepted responsibility

and asked forgiveness. I, for one, appreciate his being a "man"

and I accept his apology.

Somehow we in America refuse

to let bygones be bygones. We want dwell so much on someone else's

imperfections and failures so we are more comfortable with our own faults.

Can't we get a life?

Once the baring of the breast

made it into our thoughts, you would have thought America was the moralistic

nation in all the earth. You would have thought we did not have our fair

share of porn channels. You would have thought that porn magazines could

be found under the beds of some of our leaders, Christian at that. I mean,

with all the hoopla over the bare breast, you would have thought America

was a innocent damsel in distress.

The truth is that America,

not Iraq or Saudi Arabia or Iran, is the one whose entertainment is in

the gutter. At least in those countries their religion holds a reign on

moral filth. It seems we want to spread democracy and indecency all over

the world.

Jesus had a word for those

who got out of joint over the Jackson/Timberlake event. He said before

you start trying to remove the splinter in someone else's life, try

removing the board that is in your own eye. Good word.

Remember the evangelist who

preached fire and damnation on all those who were engaged in perverted

sex, only to be found out himself to be deeply involved with several sexual

perversions.

Perhaps Justin and Janet should

be stimuli not so much for moral outrage, but our inward examination.

When was the last time, man, you tore off a woman's cover with your

eyes?

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach

International Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia

30215. 770-719-0303

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