This time it is movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, who is in the news for the terrible way he has treated women. It is reported that he often used his power and wealth to threaten and intimidate women. He would try to get them to say yes to disgusting requests. The numbers keep growing of the women who say they were used and abused by him.

In one article a woman talked about this kind of behavior as something a woman has to get used to. It’s awfully sad that some women become so accustomed to being mistreated that they think it is something they have to get used to. No woman should ever have to get used to being scared and intimidated. No woman should have to get used to men saying disgusting and degrading things to them. No woman should ever have to get used to men touching them in inappropriate, unwanted and threatening ways.

Degrading talk about women is not to be dismissed as “locker room talk.” Grabbing a woman and touching her in ways she doesn’t want to be touched is not “boys being boys.” It is not the behavior of “a man’s man.” It is sinful behavior. A man’s man shows gentleness, compassion and love and seeks to build women up. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up … But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality” (Ephesians 4:29, 5:3). It is evil when men treat women as just things to give them pleasure.

The Gospels provide us with a picture of the true gentleman: Jesus. He treated women with respect and honor. He talked with a woman of another race, who had had five husbands and was living with a man who wasn’t her husband, and was willing to drink water from a cup that she handled – something other Jewish men of that day wouldn’t dream of doing. The woman was shocked. “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (John 4:9). He had a one-on-one conversation with this woman about spiritual matters and even revealed to her that He was the Messiah.

A woman with a sinful past, scorned by the crowd, who a religious leader didn’t even want in his home, was praised by Jesus for her faith and love. “Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace’” (Luke 7:50).

Another woman with a bleeding condition that made her unclean in the eyes of the world touched Jesus’ cloak and her bleeding stopped. When Jesus was looking for who touched Him she got nervous. But Jesus treated her with compassion and gentleness and said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48).

There are many more beautiful and gracious examples of Jesus treating women with respect, gentleness and love. Those who knew Him knew they could come to Him and find safety, security and peace.

It is tragic some women think they have to get used to being harassed and mistreated. I pray those women and all of us would get used to, but always be amazed by the incredible grace of God.