Before it was a Broadway musical with a successful film adaptation, Les Miserables has been a favorite book of mine. Although the theatrical, film, and television adaptations have become widely popular, not many people have taken the time to sit down and read the massive novel. Like Augustine's Confessions, Hugo's work is poignant and thought-provoking. Hugo inserts his own story and his Christian faith into the novel sporadically with chilling insight to the state of evil, pain, and misery that surrounds most of society unnoticed. With a keen insight into the life of misery, Hugo tells numerous stories of redemption with clear Christlike undertones and characterizations that consistently remain ignored by producers and directors that continue to miss the crux to Hugo's literary masterpiece. Overall, Hugo's work demonstrates that God's grace is sufficient and it has lasting implications for the course of our lives after Christ's substitutionary atonement on our behalf. It is not about a bad man who tries to right the wrongs of his past life. It is the story of a sinner who receives grace instead of judgment and the manner in which his life changes as he is sanctified.
I first became interested in the book after watching the film adaptation starring Liam Neeson, Uma Thurman, and Geoffrey Rush (which is my favorite version to date). When I once frequented bookstores before the advent of Kindle, I was perusing the classic paperbacks for sale. Les Miserables instantly caught my eye. I hastily purchased the book, went home, and started reading. Despite it's enormous size, I soon found myself almost half-way through the book in a few weeks of sporadic reading. It's an unexpectedly easy read, and the story is a page-turner. Another semester of school started, I put the book on the back burner, and I have yet to finish the book to date (although I am planning to start it all over again soon).
Although there are many aspects and themes in the book that are thought provoking, the story of Fantine instantly tugs on the reader's heartstrings:
Fantine, a young working woman in Paris, has been seduced, impregnated, and cynically abandoned by her lover. Oncer her baby, Cosette, is born, she innocently leaves her in the care of the evil Thenardier couple, dishonest innkeepers, and goes to her native village, where Jean Valjean has settled. She finds work there in the glassware factory, but is fired by a self-righteous female foreman who discovers that she has an illegitimate child. The Thenardiers have been starving Cosette, dressing her in rags, and forcing her to do hard labor, while sending Fantine exorbitant, fraudulant medical bills. She must turn to prostitution to support her daughter.
(excerpt from Les Miserables edited and abridged by Laurence M. Porter, Barnes & Noble Classics, New York, 2003)
Although my harshest critique of the most recent film adaptation of the hit musical was that it was too theatrical, perhaps the most theatrical and resilient scene of the film was Anne Hathaway's memorable performance of Fantine's inner turmoil and anguish. As a Christian, I couldn't help but think, What would I possibly do if this young woman walked into my church and asked for help? As a deacon, the reality did not take long to set in. Although I hated the answer, I could not help the fact that I would probably hesitate to help Fantine the way that I ought. I was moved to tears by the fact that my heart has been hardened against millions of women just like Fantine around the world prostituting their bodies. I would rather her kind receive help outside of the church and not from within it. I have since changed my tune, or at least I would like to believe I have. I'll never know until the rubber meets the road, and then, I pray that God would pour out His grace upon me that I might see the woman as He saw Mary Magdalene.
The version of the book that I purchased from Barnes & Noble states that, "Some entire chapters and opening sections of chapters have been cut...[to] allow the reader to follow the action without reading all of Hugo's subplots and side remarks." The following is one of the chapters of Hugo's work that didn't make the cut:
Chapter XI
Christus Nos Liberavit
What is this history of Fantine? It is society buying a slave.
From whom? From misery.
From hunger, from cold, from loneliness, from abandonment, from privation. Melancholy barter. A soul for a bit of bread. Misery makes the offer, society accepts.
The holy law of Jesus Christ governs our civilization, but it does not yet permeate it; it is said that slavery has disappeared from European civilization. That is a mistake. It still exists, but it weighs now only upon woman and it is called prostitution.
It weighs upon woman--that is to say, upon grace, upon feebleness, upon beauty, upon maternity. This is not one of the least of man's shames.
At the stage of this mournful drama at which we have now arrived Fantine has nothing left of what she had formerly been. She has become marble in becoming corrupted. Whoever touches her feels a chill. She goes her way, she endures you and she knows you not; she wears a dishonored and severe face. Life and social order have spoken their last word to her. All that can happen to her has happened. She has endured all, borne all, experienced all, suffered all, lost all, wept for all. She is resigned with that resignation that resembles indifferences as death resembles sleep. She shuns nothing now. She fears nothing now. Every cloud falls upon her and all the ocean sweeps over her. What matters it to her? The sponge is already drenched.
She believed so at least, but it is a mistake to imagine that man can exhaust his destiny or can reach the bottom of anything whatever.
Alas! What are all these destinies thus driven pell-mell? Whither go they? Why are they so?
He who knows that sees all the shadow.
He is alone. His name is God.
Victor Hugo published Les Miserables in 1862. One hundred and fifty one years have passed and his words remain as true today as they were in 1862. Although Hugo's interactions with the sorrows and woes of prostitutes is often suspect (Hugo was an adulterer who reportedly frequented prostitutes throughout his life), his insight into their plight should not be disregarded.
Prostitutes remain enslaved to misery. They still do not receive compassion or mercy from those whose eyes should be most opened to their desperate and miserable predicament. Christian, what would you do if a streetwalker walked into your church just before Sunday morning worship? Would you speak to her with compassion or condescension? Would you clothe her with the gospel of Jesus Christ, or would you do whatever you had to in order to get her to leave the building? The answer is telling. Not only about the way society views these broken women but about the way Christians have little mercy for women who sell their bodies when all else fails. It is as if they are guilty of an unforgiveable sin.
Prostitutes remain enslaved to misery. They still do not receive compassion or mercy from those whose eyes should be most opened to their desperate and miserable predicament. Christian, what would you do if a streetwalker walked into your church just before Sunday morning worship? Would you speak to her with compassion or condescension? Would you clothe her with the gospel of Jesus Christ, or would you do whatever you had to in order to get her to leave the building? The answer is telling. Not only about the way society views these broken women but about the way Christians have little mercy for women who sell their bodies when all else fails. It is as if they are guilty of an unforgiveable sin.
(Luke 7:36-40)
Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
(Luke 7:44-48)
Look at how she cleans her Lord and Savior's feet. Study it. For in it you will see the state of misery that many prostitutes convicted of their sin find themselves in. It is still an insult in Middle Eastern cultures today to display the bottom of your feet. It is a statement that says that I find you lower than the dirt that I walk on. This woman not only washes Jesus' feet, but she does so with the hair of her head and the tears of her eyes. This woman not only washes Jesus' feet, but she kisses the Son's feet and His wrath is quickly kindled. I am less than the dirt you walk upon is the clear statement of her display. She was miserable. She was destitute of self. She felt lower than dirt. She knew that she was a sinner, and despite the teachings of the Phariees, she rested in Christ by faith for the forgiveness of sins. Her display of faith in Christ is perhaps one of the most beautiful displays of faith recorded in all of Scripture.
How many prostitutes, how many broken women, how many victims of sex trafficking, how many victims of sexual abuse have come crawling to the Church, their last hope, only to be turned away because they are women of ill-repute that might stain the congregation's wholesome image? Surely, a pastor cannot expect a large home-schooled family to worship next to a bruised, beaten, ravaged woman who is known to be a streetwalker. If we did allow her to stay, surely we would escort her to a corner of the building where eyes could not see her.
We excuse ourselves with sundry excuses. She uses colorful language, and we don't want our children to hear it. Yes, she does use colorful language, but nobody has ever spoken to her with dignity, nobody has talked to her like a human-being, and nobody has spoken soft, compassionate language into her ears. She has only ever known the language on the streets. Teach her the words of Christ.
She does not dress appropriately, and we don't want our children or men in the church to stumble when they see her. Yes, she is not dressed appropriately, but nobody has ever tried to clothe her. Her pimp has only ever given her revealing outfits to increase his profits. She has tried to clothe herself as best as she could to come to church. She wears the longest skirt, the highest cut blouse, and the flattest shoes she owns, but she is still too risqué for the church. The deacons don't feel comfortable with her presence. Although her heart desires to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, she will have to clothe her body better before she can continue to attend church here. Truly examine your heart. What would you do if you found a prostitute sitting on the steps of your church building Sunday morning? Would you invite her in or would you ask her to leave?
How many prostitutes, how many broken women, how many victims of sex trafficking, how many victims of sexual abuse have come crawling to the Church, their last hope, only to be turned away because they are women of ill-repute that might stain the congregation's wholesome image? Surely, a pastor cannot expect a large home-schooled family to worship next to a bruised, beaten, ravaged woman who is known to be a streetwalker. If we did allow her to stay, surely we would escort her to a corner of the building where eyes could not see her.
We excuse ourselves with sundry excuses. She uses colorful language, and we don't want our children to hear it. Yes, she does use colorful language, but nobody has ever spoken to her with dignity, nobody has talked to her like a human-being, and nobody has spoken soft, compassionate language into her ears. She has only ever known the language on the streets. Teach her the words of Christ.
She does not dress appropriately, and we don't want our children or men in the church to stumble when they see her. Yes, she is not dressed appropriately, but nobody has ever tried to clothe her. Her pimp has only ever given her revealing outfits to increase his profits. She has tried to clothe herself as best as she could to come to church. She wears the longest skirt, the highest cut blouse, and the flattest shoes she owns, but she is still too risqué for the church. The deacons don't feel comfortable with her presence. Although her heart desires to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, she will have to clothe her body better before she can continue to attend church here. Truly examine your heart. What would you do if you found a prostitute sitting on the steps of your church building Sunday morning? Would you invite her in or would you ask her to leave?
According to the U.S. State Department's 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report, more than eight hundred thousand hapless human beings are trafficked worldwide every year as slaves, and most are young women earmarked for the international flesh trade. They join an estimated 10 million women and children ensnared in sex markets around the globe...
The State Department report also notes that the trafficking of human beings is the third highest money-making operation for organized crime behind the sale of illegal drugs and weapons. The crime of trafficking in humans nets criminal syndicates worldwide more than 12 billion dollars a year...
[P]rostitution--all prostitution--is not about choice. If anything, for the overwhelming majority of women ensnared in the trade, it is the ultimate act of desperation. It is survival sex.
But when society sees these women, it chooses to view them as social pariahs, the perpetrators of seedy, immoral acts, unworthy of compassion or understanding. These women are accused of taking the easy way out, eschewing hard work and luring otherwise upstanding family men, businessmen, community leaders, and others into debauchery and deceit. I've come to realize that society's attitude toward the world of prostitution is laden with hypocrisy and double standards. While the women are stigmatized with terms laced with opprobrium and distaste...the users of prostituted women are benignly tagged clients, patrons, customers, and johns.
(Excerpts from The Johns, Victor Malarek, Arcade Publishing, New York, 2011)
Prostitution and pornography walk down the same road of destruction hand-in-hand. However, A streetwalker who accepts money for performing sexual favors is a criminal in our society. A woman who accepts money for performing sexual actions in front of a camera for entertainment purposes is a porn star. I don't see the difference. Both women are exploited, both women's bodies and sexuality are held captive by pimps, and both women are paraded around for their pimp's profit. Whether the pimp is a man who takes most of her money for turning tricks or a massive corporation that capitalizes from her sexual performances makes no difference to me.
Malarek's observation is convicting. Our society looks down upon prostitutes and porn stars as the scum of humanity. Their crime is selling their bodies. However, what they solicit and sale has a high demand. Whether visual or tangible, there is a much higher demand for prostitution and pornography than there is a supply. In fact, the demand is insatiable. Society cannot get enough of what these exploited women complacently or forcefully provide, and when it is all said and done, society washes their hands of them, and discards them as trash that is not worth our time or compassion. The supply of prostitution and pornography is horrendous, but the demand for it remains victimized and comforted. You poor thing. Did that woman seduce you and cause you to stop thinking purely by taking advantage of your sexual longings?
Proverbs 7 instantly comes to mind as a defense for the men who look at pornography and the johns that approach prostititutes who believe that they are victims.
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
(Proverbs 7:4-5)
As wisdom and insight are personified, so too is adultery personified as a forbidden woman dressed as a prostitute. Prostitutes are no more responsible for adultery than sisters are responsible for wisdom. Although the chapter is addressed to "my son," nevertheless, the lessons outlined herein are just as applicable to daughters. The temptation outlined is not being propositioned by a prostitute but, rather, delighting ourselves in sexual promiscuity and debauchery (v. 18). Not only should our sons flee from the adulteress' lies, our daughters, too, should flee her lies. Our sons need to be protected from the temptation to idolize love, and our daughters need to be protected from becoming the idol of our sons' affection. Both our sons and daughters are prone to the adulteress' snare.
Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
(Proverbs 7:25-26)
Her victims are our sons and daughters. Her victims are men that seek after sex and women who are exploited by men seeking them to fulfill their sexual desires. Men could not be tempted by immodest women unless women were tempted to become immodest tempters by the desires of men. It's a vicious cycle that feeds upon itself. Both are victims of adultery's lies and deceit. Both are laid low, and both join the mighty throng of the adulteress' slain.
I have read several blog posts and articles about modesty. They are almost always directed towards the immodesty of girls and their responsibility to not become a stumbling block to the boys around them by not wearing enough clothing. This is just another articulation of the same double standard. Society and the church are not addressing the responsibility on both sides of the same coin. The message is that it is a girl's responsibility to dress modestly and when she dresses immodestly she victimizes poor boys that cannot handle her immodesty appropriately. If a woman is responsible to dress modestly, a man is responsible to dress her modestly. That is to say, if a woman is to dress in an appropriate manner then men should also desire a woman that dresses modestly.
Men, it is time for us to be men. Brothers, it is time for us to be brothers. The woman is the weaker vessel, not the man (1 Pet. 3:7). Why does the responsibility to guard our hearts rest on our sisters and women? Our sisters are immodest because we reward their immodesty with our sinful affection. Yes, they have a responsibility and their responsibility is repeatedly emphasized by the church. However, nobody ever tells you that you too have a responsibility towards them. They must dress their bodies modestly lest you fall, but you must dress them modestly with your heart lest you cause them to stumble. As long as men take advantage of immodest women, women will continue to parade their bodies for man's pleasure and affection. To place the whole blame on women is a perpetuation of the lie, and as long as we keep focusing on half of the problem the problem will continue to grow.
Brothers and sisters, we need to change the way we are approaching the problem of pornography and prostitution. Our sons are falling prey to the adulteress, and our daughters are falling prey too. If we are going to victimize men for falling prey to pornography, then where is our sympathy for the women that they exploit in doing so? If we are going to criminalize prostitutes for selling their bodies for money, then why don't we criminalize johns that think that a woman's sexuality is something that can be bought?
If nothing else, I want you to think about the world of prostitution and pornography differently. We make men out to be the victims, but I'm here to tell you differently. Men are not the victims of pornography. They are the instigators and perpetrators. Men demand, and therefore women supply. We have to address the problem from the head down. We have to! Otherwise, we will never stop this vicious cycle. If you cut off supply a demand remains. If you cut off the demand, then supply becomes useless and falls by the wayside. Do you want to shut down the pornography and prostitution industry? It starts by training our sons to be men, the stronger vessels, responsible for viewing women as image bearers of God and not sexual play toys. It starts by training our sons to be men, teaching them to be responsible for guarding their hearts, praising modesty and rejecting immodesty. It starts by training our sons to be men that will dress a woman in modesty in his heart no matter how immodest she dresses her body. It starts by training our sons to be men that will share the gospel with a sinful woman rather than exploit her and take advantage of her sinfulness. It starts by training our sons to be men that will cover their sister's nakedness rather than rejoice in it. It starts by training our sons to be men!
If you are struggling with pornography or know somebody that is and you found this blog helpful, uplifting, and encouraging, then please visit my Facebook page for further resources and discussion. If you would like to contact me, feel free to message me through my Facebook page as well. I am literally a click away. I would love to know who you are and keep you in my prayers. Thanks.
Malarek's observation is convicting. Our society looks down upon prostitutes and porn stars as the scum of humanity. Their crime is selling their bodies. However, what they solicit and sale has a high demand. Whether visual or tangible, there is a much higher demand for prostitution and pornography than there is a supply. In fact, the demand is insatiable. Society cannot get enough of what these exploited women complacently or forcefully provide, and when it is all said and done, society washes their hands of them, and discards them as trash that is not worth our time or compassion. The supply of prostitution and pornography is horrendous, but the demand for it remains victimized and comforted. You poor thing. Did that woman seduce you and cause you to stop thinking purely by taking advantage of your sexual longings?
Proverbs 7 instantly comes to mind as a defense for the men who look at pornography and the johns that approach prostititutes who believe that they are victims.
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
(Proverbs 7:4-5)
As wisdom and insight are personified, so too is adultery personified as a forbidden woman dressed as a prostitute. Prostitutes are no more responsible for adultery than sisters are responsible for wisdom. Although the chapter is addressed to "my son," nevertheless, the lessons outlined herein are just as applicable to daughters. The temptation outlined is not being propositioned by a prostitute but, rather, delighting ourselves in sexual promiscuity and debauchery (v. 18). Not only should our sons flee from the adulteress' lies, our daughters, too, should flee her lies. Our sons need to be protected from the temptation to idolize love, and our daughters need to be protected from becoming the idol of our sons' affection. Both our sons and daughters are prone to the adulteress' snare.
Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
(Proverbs 7:25-26)
Her victims are our sons and daughters. Her victims are men that seek after sex and women who are exploited by men seeking them to fulfill their sexual desires. Men could not be tempted by immodest women unless women were tempted to become immodest tempters by the desires of men. It's a vicious cycle that feeds upon itself. Both are victims of adultery's lies and deceit. Both are laid low, and both join the mighty throng of the adulteress' slain.
I have read several blog posts and articles about modesty. They are almost always directed towards the immodesty of girls and their responsibility to not become a stumbling block to the boys around them by not wearing enough clothing. This is just another articulation of the same double standard. Society and the church are not addressing the responsibility on both sides of the same coin. The message is that it is a girl's responsibility to dress modestly and when she dresses immodestly she victimizes poor boys that cannot handle her immodesty appropriately. If a woman is responsible to dress modestly, a man is responsible to dress her modestly. That is to say, if a woman is to dress in an appropriate manner then men should also desire a woman that dresses modestly.
Men, it is time for us to be men. Brothers, it is time for us to be brothers. The woman is the weaker vessel, not the man (1 Pet. 3:7). Why does the responsibility to guard our hearts rest on our sisters and women? Our sisters are immodest because we reward their immodesty with our sinful affection. Yes, they have a responsibility and their responsibility is repeatedly emphasized by the church. However, nobody ever tells you that you too have a responsibility towards them. They must dress their bodies modestly lest you fall, but you must dress them modestly with your heart lest you cause them to stumble. As long as men take advantage of immodest women, women will continue to parade their bodies for man's pleasure and affection. To place the whole blame on women is a perpetuation of the lie, and as long as we keep focusing on half of the problem the problem will continue to grow.
Brothers and sisters, we need to change the way we are approaching the problem of pornography and prostitution. Our sons are falling prey to the adulteress, and our daughters are falling prey too. If we are going to victimize men for falling prey to pornography, then where is our sympathy for the women that they exploit in doing so? If we are going to criminalize prostitutes for selling their bodies for money, then why don't we criminalize johns that think that a woman's sexuality is something that can be bought?
If nothing else, I want you to think about the world of prostitution and pornography differently. We make men out to be the victims, but I'm here to tell you differently. Men are not the victims of pornography. They are the instigators and perpetrators. Men demand, and therefore women supply. We have to address the problem from the head down. We have to! Otherwise, we will never stop this vicious cycle. If you cut off supply a demand remains. If you cut off the demand, then supply becomes useless and falls by the wayside. Do you want to shut down the pornography and prostitution industry? It starts by training our sons to be men, the stronger vessels, responsible for viewing women as image bearers of God and not sexual play toys. It starts by training our sons to be men, teaching them to be responsible for guarding their hearts, praising modesty and rejecting immodesty. It starts by training our sons to be men that will dress a woman in modesty in his heart no matter how immodest she dresses her body. It starts by training our sons to be men that will share the gospel with a sinful woman rather than exploit her and take advantage of her sinfulness. It starts by training our sons to be men that will cover their sister's nakedness rather than rejoice in it. It starts by training our sons to be men!
If you are struggling with pornography or know somebody that is and you found this blog helpful, uplifting, and encouraging, then please visit my Facebook page for further resources and discussion. If you would like to contact me, feel free to message me through my Facebook page as well. I am literally a click away. I would love to know who you are and keep you in my prayers. Thanks.
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