“Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
Attorney Bryan Stevenson nailed it with this quote. Nothing is truer than the sentiments in this statement. It is Biblically and morally accurate, and these words apply to everyone’s life.
Everyone has needed these words, especially many of my criminal defense clients. I often remind them of Stevenson’s insight when they feel like their life is over because of a criminal allegation.
Right now, former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore needs these words as well.
The Allegations
Allegedly, Coach Moore was involved in an affair with his administrative assistant while being married with three children. Reportedly, the university learned about the affair with his staffer and terminated his contract.
In response to his firing, he allegedly broke into his mistress’s house and threatened to harm himself and/or her. He is currently facing allegations of third-degree home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. It is crucial to remember that he is presumed innocent of these charges unless and until he pleads guilty to them or the state can present credible evidence of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The home invasion charge is reportedly a third-degree felony under Michigan law. Specifically, the state is alleging Coach Moore unlawfully entered the home of his alleged mistress with the intent to commit, or actually committed, a misdemeanor. This felony charge carries up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.
But we are a long way from these determinations. Again, these are all allegations, and I’ve practiced law long enough to know initial stories can have many inaccuracies. If the state doesn’t dismiss the charges or Moore doesn’t reach a plea agreement, the case will likely go to trial before a judge and/or jury. Either will determine what the truth is and what is the appropriate punishment.
The Human Cost
The other piece of this story is that Coach Moore has worked hard to become the head coach of the storied University of Michigan football program. He was reportedly the first African American head coach in the university’s history, leading a program that is one of the best in the nation. This consideration is huge, but it is not the priority now since there is another critical element here.
The worst part of this story is the potential impact on his immediate family, i.e., his wife and children. There are no winners in situations like these. Therefore, I am rooting and praying for everyone involved in this matter.
Impact On Other Black Coaches
Some have expressed concern that Coach Moore’s alleged failures will make it difficult for other deserving Black coaches to secure similar opportunities. While that is unfortunately possible—especially at institutions already averse to hiring Black coaches—punishing the collective for the actions of one would be a grave injustice for several reasons.
First, Black men do not have a monopoly on bad behavior. White men fail, too. In reality, all men have moments of failure.
Second, most Black men serve in their careers honorably. Unfortunately, these stories of integrity and steady leadership are seldom told by the media.
Finally, Black men should not be judged by the failures of a few. Every man should be judged by his own actions. If we were to judge all white men by the worst actions of other white men, we could irrationally conclude that all white men are racists, colonizers, or white supremacists. That logic is flawed, and it should not be applied here.
The Spiritual Perspective
The question on everyone’s mind is why Coach Moore made the decisions he made. Here is where I put on my clergy hat to answer that question.
I don’t know Coach Moore’s background, religion, or anything about him personally. I am only able to offer general information based on Scripture. The first Scripture we look to is Genesis 2:24:
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Married men are to cleave to their wives only. Cleaving to her begins with covenants based on vows of fidelity, faithfulness, love, and so forth. When married men violate these covenants, break their vows, and sin, oftentimes they will blame others—including God. Adam is an example of a man who blamed someone else for his failure (Genesis 3:12).
But we are to blame for our own sins. We open ourselves up to and succumb to lust, which makes us vulnerable to temptations. Temptations are unavoidable; they are everywhere. They are not all sexual in nature; they can be related to money, violence, dishonesty, and much more. Lust makes one vulnerable to the temptations of life and the weaknesses of one’s fleshly desires.
Therefore, sin starts with lust. It is the culprit. Lust usually enters and takes root when a person has compromised in some way, making themselves vulnerable. This vulnerability could arise from pornography, spiritual neglect, greed, values, or some other source. It is usually an area of life where one has given access and an opening to lust. The Bible expresses the process like this:
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.
These Scriptures inform us of the process of sin—in this case, alleged adultery. The process is: Compromise -> Lust -> Temptation -> Sin -> Death. This process doesn’t change. It worked in the Garden of Eden, and it still works today in one form or another unless it is disrupted.
Incidentally, death is separation, which occurs in different forms including physical death, spiritual death, covenant death, and eternal death.
Physical death is the separation of the body from the soul and spirit.
Spiritual death is the separation of God from sinners.
Covenant death is the separation of two covenant partners (e.g., divorce).
Eternal death is the eternal separation of God and unrepentant sinners.
The Real Hero of the Story
But there is also something else at work in this process. It is Grace!
When Adam and Eve fell prey to this sinful process, God met them with grace. Yes, there were consequences also, but the real story of the fall of man isn’t the sin or the consequences—it is God’s amazing GRACE.
Grace is the hero in the story of the fall of man because God’s Grace overcame the offense, repaired the sin, and canceled out the consequences. As Romans 5:20 says: “…where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly.”
Now, let’s zoom out and get back to Coach Moore. If these allegations are true, with God’s grace, he can overcome the offense, repair the sin, and cancel out the consequences. What is needed from him is an acknowledgment of his failures and repentance.
With that said, I’ll end where I began: “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
