The Danger of Throwing Stones!

I often hear people remark that "Christians are so judgmental".  Or worse yet, they are judgmental but then do the same things they judge others for. Then someone will remark, "All Christians are hypoocrites". Let's be honest on the one hand every Christian is a hypocrite in the sense that we claim to be a Christ follower and on any given day someone could point out that we are really living up to that standard.  

However if one reads the bible they can hardly claim Jesus is judgmental or hypocritical. There is a difference between "judgement" and being "judgmental".  There are behaviors or attitudes we should give a "judgment" we need to call out as sin.  But to be judgmental is the character flaw of someone who is constantly pointing out the flaws in others without looking in the mirror at their own.  The story of the woman caught in adultery is one of my favorite stories, because it shows the true heart of Jesus for lost sinners like me and you.  As the bible says, "Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it."  Let's look at the passage from John 8 beginning in verse 1.  

"But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

What can we learn about Jesus from this story?  

1. Fact: the woman was guilty, she was caught in the act of adultery. 

2. Though she was guilty, we are all guilty.  This was the point of Jesus writing on the ground, presumably making a list of sins of those who wanted to condemn her.  

3. Jesus levels the playing field in one fell swoop with one question "Who of you is without sin, let that person be the first to cast the first stone?"

4. The oldest men there realize first how sinful they are.  As Jesus lists the sins of the self righteous, the oldest leave first a sign that they out of anyone knew they had plenty of marks in the sin column.  

5. When Jesus is left alone with the woman, we reach the high point in the passage and one of most poignant scenes in the whole bible.  Jesus, the only one who was without sin and the only who could have justifiably stoned her, does not condemn her.  He offers her unmerited favor and pure grace. She deserved death and received life from this mysterious man some called the Messiah.  

6. Finally, Jesus shows us that he is not okay with her life of sin.  Though he doesn't condemn her he calls her out of her bondage to an adulterous lifestyle to freedom.  In his unconditional acceptance of her, she is seeing the unconditional love she has always been looking for.  

My question today is how do we handle sin in the church and in our own lives? 

1. Do we excuse sin and just sweep it under the carpet?  Is everything just ok?

2. Do we condemn others and use human standards and pride to judge others despite having sin in our own lives. 

Jesus took another path.  While not excusing her sin, he was more interested in this woman's identity and personhood than judging her.  He knew that she was trying to fill the void in her soul with something that would never truly satisfy her. But showing her God's unconditional love, Jesus showed her the way to eternal life.  

One thing is for sure in this life. People are going to keep on sinning and leading a lifestyle like this woman.  The only question is will we as the church love people and accept them like Jesus did.  Will we offer free, unmerited grace and acceptance, so people will truly embrace the unconditional love that God has and be set free to live the life they always wanted.  Maybe then people will the church as a hospital for sinner, not a museum for the saints.