The Epstein Scandal and What it Tells Us

Why a disregard for Scriptural ethics leads to sexual and moral ruination

Roman sex Why do we find the almost daily revelations concerning Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson and their cohorts so abhorrent? Could it be that the uncomfortable truth for our supposedly enlightened age is that we find these rich and powerful men morally reprehensible ultimately because of the Christian faith?

Self-regarding bubble

There are of course many reasons behind the behaviour of these men. The rich and powerful appear to live in an environment which encourages them to think that they are immune from condemnation and retribution. This gives them free rein to do as they will, to corrupt young girls and to swap sensitive commercial information, even secrets, to their own advantage. They live in their own insulated self-regarding bubble.

The cost to others of their behaviour does not seem to enter their consideration. The plight of the ordinary people far below them is a matter of no consideration whatsoever except as pawns to be exploited. Yet this behaviour should not surprise us, it is, after all, only the visible expression of the underlying attitudes of our Western civilisation.

Our society is one where sexual gratification without consequence is endemic. It should come as no surprise when the extremely wealthy show the same attitudes and share the same appetites as are peddled to the general population, except to a greater degree due to their wealth.

The relentless sexualisation of society

Politicians and those with influence have been relentless in the sexualisation of society since the sixties. The moral outrage at Epstein and his friends exhibited in Parliament and by the media has more than a whiff of hypocrisy about it.

Successive governments, egged on by the media, have enacted a number of laws and policies that embed sexual freedom as an unequivocal good for individuals and society. The 1959 Obscene Publications Act; the 1967 Abortion Act, the 1969 Divorce Reform Act; the 1967 National Health Service (Family Planning) Act; these and other laws have had a profound impact on attitudes within society.

The 2000 Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution guidance created a blind spot, allowing police and social workers to interpret underage sex with adult males as consensual. The impact of such government guidance on the Rape Gang scandal in which tens of thousands of underage girls were raped has passed unnoticed.

Our government is not alone: this vigorous approach to children and sex is fully supported by the UN, which suggests “comprehensive sexuality education” should “begin at five”. Suggested teaching materials include such ideas for 12 year-olds as: “Different cultures have different ways of understanding sex, gender and reproduction and when it is appropriate to become sexually active,” and: “Everyone has the right to choose if, when, how and with whom to engage in sexual activity and this should be respected at all times.”

A return to paganism

In our abandonment of the Christian morality underpinning society we have returned to a pre-Christian pagan morality. If you cut out the Christian moral underpinning of society from the West, as we have, you will return to pagan morality.

If you cut out the Christian moral underpinning of society from the West, as we have, you will return to pagan morality.

Before the spread of Christianity, ‘civilized’ Greek and Roman elites openly flaunted underage sex slaves. This was considered normal. Emperor Hadrian built an entire city in honour of his favourite boy.
In the Roman world the strong took what they wanted to take. Provided that he was the dominant participant, it was socially acceptable for an influential Roman male to have intercourse with men and women alike.

A respectable Roman man would express his dominance by having sex, consensual or forced, with men, women, even children. Rape of a slave would only be considered a crime of property damage against the slave’s owner. Throughout most of its history it is clear that Roman culture was one of profound promiscuity and inequality.

Revolutionary teaching

Into this world stepped Christians. Paul’s teachings on sexual morality were received as completely liberating by lowborn women and male slaves of that time who were treated by the Romans as Epstein treated young women in more recent days. It is difficult for us to appreciate how utterly revolutionary biblical teachings on sexual morality were in their day. They challenged not only the sexual practices of Roman society but the fundamental structures of that society.

It is difficult for us to appreciate how utterly revolutionary biblical teachings on sexual morality were in their day.

Society today views Paul as a dour misogynistic figure determined to stop people enjoying themselves. In fact, Paul’s teachings on sexual purity and marriage were adopted as liberating in the pornographic, sexually exploitative Greco-Roman culture of the time. Christianity, as preached by Paul, worked a cultural revolution, restraining and channelling male sexual drive, elevating the status of both women and of the human body, and infusing marriage and marital sexuality with love.

Within Christian teaching sex took on a new and wholesome meaning. A meaning that demanded a radical change in the way that people behaved. The cultural norms of society were changed completely, not only in the realm of sexual morality, but in their view of what a person actually is.

The Christianity taught and practiced by these early Christians did not merely represent an alternate system of morality. Christianity condemned outright the existing system, which was foundational to Roman identity. Christians were disrupters. Christians were outsiders. Christians were dangerous. Christian morality threatened to turn society on its head. Is it any wonder that they were scorned, imprisoned and executed?

Christian morality threatened to turn society on its head. Is it any wonder that they were scorned, imprisoned and executed?

A turning back

The frightening thing is that our society is turning its back on these revolutionary Christian practices and standards and turning again to the ancient pagan practices and morals. Our so called progressives have turned their backs on genuine progress and are plunging once again into a pagan view of humanity where all that really matters is power and personal satisfaction.

In the meantime, the Church of England, the largest Protestant denomination in Great Britain, seems happy to be mired in infighting over issues of process, devoting endless time to questions of promoting same-sex marriage and minor issues from special interest groups exemplified by the bishop of Dudley’s crusade for sustainable flower arranging.

Unless the Church rediscovers the revolutionary nature of the Bible’s teaching, society is heading for a future where the rich and powerful live unrestrained lives and the rest of us are viewed as fodder for their appetites, to be placated by bread and circuses.

(Image: The Romans in their Decadence, French painting by Thomas Couture, 1847)

Rev Dr Campbell Campbell-Jack, 17/02/2026

Feedback:

		John Shipton (Guest)	17/02/2026 21:36
Thank you again for your thoughtful article. The wealthy religious and political elite try their hardest to sweep the dirt under the carpet while playing down the corrupt and deceit that goes with it. The Epstein scandal is proving this. This has not only affected the Royal Family and MPs together with government officials, it reveals what lies ahead when the anti Christ is invited to take the helm in resolving the political, religious, economic and social structure, which in its form, is driving folk into despair and feeling the pinch that anything now goes. Repentance and Salvation is less talked about in church settings while using worldly tools, compromise, and techniques in the approach of getting bums on seats at church services, far from message of the Gospel which Christ and the Apostles portrayed. Seek Ye the Kingdom of God is no longer fashionable together with leading a life honourable and acceptable to the Lord God Almighty. Having said this, the hierarchy involved with the leadership of Church of England is showing contempt towards biblical Christianity while false prophets and teachers are taking the mickey out of the so-called Christian Church by exploiting and abusing their positions, in fleecing the flock they behold, and increasing their luxurious lifestyles with others following suit, using followers as cash cows. Most of this is kept under wraps and hidden. However, in these perilous days called the Last Days, what has been hidden by the rich and powerful, is being revealed, and those claiming to be Christians, is a wake up call for not only them but to society as a whole, when Almighty God's calling to Repentance and Salvation is considered obsolete for the 21st century. For the consequences are enormous for those not listening and refuse to accept what the Word of God declares. I am glad to have been born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, and have the assurance that my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Otherwise, I would remain walking on the Highway to Hell which so many are treading!