Recently Swiss authorities arrested Director Roman Polanski on an outstanding warrant. Years ago, Mr. Polanski raped a 13 year old girl, pled guilty than fled the US before his sentencing. He has been living in Europe trying to avoid the consequences of his despicable act. Now, it would seem, he may finally pay the piper.

Yet, throughout America celebrities seem up in arms. Whoopi Goldberg excused him because it wasn’t ‘rape-rape,’ whatever that means. Diplomats and stars alike are shocked, not at Polanski’s crime, but at the authorities from having the audacity to arrest him. As shocking as that sounds, should we really be shocked? No, I don’t think so.

You see, darkness HATES light. Polanski’s crime, and cowardice clearly fall into the category of darkness. He has spent a large portion of his life avoiding the light of justice. His amoral Hollywood and political compatriots may not like what he did, but they have an equally visceral hatred for light. They don’t want to face up to the evil of his act because it might mean their lifestyles are also less than good.

From serial womanizing, to drug and alcohol problems, Hollywood (and, perhaps, Washington) is filled with folks who are convinced that right and wrong are mere constructs. They want to believe that good and evil don’t actually exist. This allows them to live however they please, and act self-righteous toward anyone who might question their choices. Thus, to allow one of their own to be exposed as evil gives rise to the reality that their own lives are similarly fallen—that they aren’t the nice people, good citizens they pretend to be.

If nothing else, Roman Polanski teaches us that we are so depraved we’d rather run than face our wickedness. He reminds us how we each choose to hide, rationalize or ignore our own sin—much easier to act as the victim than to face consequences. He shows us just how important the Light of Christ is. Only that light can reveal my wickedness, convict my heart and cause repentance.

May the light of Christ shine upon Mr. Polanski, and each one of us, that we might turn to Christ and be healed.