Public Humiliations

Nothing that human beings do is perfect.

But there are some public mistakes that are absolutely inexcusable. On Sunday, February 26, 2017, the Dolby Theater (formerly the Kodak Theater) in Los Angeles, California, was packed with celebrities for the eighty-ninth Academy Awards, or 2017 Oscars. Some 33 million viewers around the world were watching the much-expected event. On the stage, presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced the winners in various categories. They named La La Land the best-picture winner, and the film team rushed to the stage to receive their statuettes. While they were still onstage hugging one another and thanking family and friends, La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz returned to the microphone and pointed out that, in fact, Moonlight had won the award.

Then, he and his group handed their statuettes over to the real winners. Distractedly, Brian Cullinan had given Mr. Beatty the spare best-actress envelope instead of the best-picture envelope. The 2017 Oscars will likely be remembered not so much for its winners as for this major gaffe. Another embarrassing event was the Miss Universe competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 20, 2015.

At the ceremony’s climax, host Steve Harvey announced Ariadna Gutiérrez from Colombia as the winner. Amid much applause, outgoing titleholder Paulina Vega crowned her with the Miss Universe sash and tiara.

But a few minutes later, Harvey admitted his error, and Paulina publicly removed the glorious emblems from Ariadna and put them on Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines. Ariadna did not deserve to be treated like that.

In contrast to such faulty decisions and public humiliations, we are assured that “God is a just judge” (Psalm 7:11) and “judges the world with righteousness” (Psalm 9:8, NRSV). The apostle Paul affirms that “all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10, NRSV). This implies that every case will be fairly decided prior to Christ’s second coming, without any unfair or unnecessary surprises.

Fairness and loyalty are the basis of God’s judgment.

You may trust that he will never overdo any penalty or withdraw any deserved reward. Everyone will be honestly rewarded according to his or her works.