“And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” John 8: 7 – 11; ESV

At this week’s Bible study, we were studying from the book of John (not this passage listed above) and we were talking about the condition this nation is headed: with all the shootings recently, the attempt of changing laws to accommodate lifestyles and actions which God clearly deems sin, calling what is wrong right and vice versa, and how Christians respond to the people involved in these lifestyles. I will use the example of which we were discussing – homosexuality, but it was not limited to this alone. One of the people there, Bob, made a statement which is worth sharing: “Which is the worse sin; the sin of homosexuality or the hatred of the homosexual?” From that, the discussion turned towards today’s Christian believer. And we discussed the Christian’s response to the sinner. In most cases, it was not favorable.

The church loves to bash people whose sin is blatantly out there and down them, thinking them not worthy of forgiveness. In fact, if it were up to some, they would pick up stones and begin to hurl them with great joy in their hearts at the guilty. And yet, we condemn the other religions who want to do this to Christians in the form of Jihads. Let’s be real: what they believe we consider being wrong and at the same time, we are doing it every day in our churches, synagogues, temples and worst of all, in our hearts. People who come to church with masses of tattoos and piercings, those convicted of crimes, those who are homosexual, living together in sin (fornication), and so on are treated like lower class citizens because of their sin. Which is the greater sin? The sin of judgment on the part of the Christian.

These scriptures listed calls attention to this horrible act of hatred. The religious leaders were more interested in finding fault and condemnation towards Christ than the lesson He was trying to teach: compassion and forgiveness. So when He stooped down and began to write in the ground, it is not certain what He was writing, however, whatever it was convicted those trying to be judge and executioner. One by one they dropped their rocks and departed; leaving the sinner with the Lord. This is what should be taking place in the church: letting the Lord alone deal with the sins, not the believer.

You see, when I picture Jesus writing in the ground, I see Him writing all sorts of different sins out. And in that listing of sins, I see my sins called out in big, bold letters; even those I believed I did in secret. Then I look at the stone in my hand and see that instead of hurling it at those whom I want to judge, that stone should be intended for me. So I drop my stone and go stand next to that person I wanted to judge and claim the same fate I wanted to impart to them. I deserve the stoning. I deserve the shaming which comes with it. However (and I LOVE that word however!), Jesus saw it fit to look beyond my faults and saw my needs; which He does for all of us. He doesn’t dismiss the sin; in fact, as you note in the passage above, He grants forgiveness and tells her to sin no more.

I get judged for my articles and sermons. I get judges for my thoughts and actions. Whatever I say or do, I am judged. I get that. And I don’t mean to be pious, but there is only one judgment I fear and care for: that which comes from God through Jesus Christ. I will not always write or speak on issues that society agrees with and I will be judged by that same society. They won’t be kind or full of mercy. In fact, they will be like the leaders of old and seek my death (socially, spiritually, and even physically). However, I will be like Jesus to ALL who enter my church and my life and offer forgiveness and mercy. I will not hold their sins against them because that’s

Jesus’ job. I will continue to call out sin for what it is, however, I will love the sinner and hate the sin. I will also remember that my sins were once written in the ground and how Jesus didn’t pick up that rock I dropped and stone me. And I will pay it forward the grace and mercy I received from Christ to all who seek it.

I now charge you, the readers and hearers of this to do the same. As those who dress different, who look different, who act different, who smell different, who behave different, who are different in social, racial, gender, and so one, show love and mercy more than judgment and hate. When the Lord said in His prayer He taught us, “Forgive us our trespasses as we have forgiven those who trespassed against us.”, He meant it to be a lifestyle more than a suggestion. And I don’t know about you, but I want to loved and forgiven completely!

Father God,

Forgive us our trespasses, as we have forgiven those who have trespassed against us. Give us Your eyes to see the need instead of the sin. And let us stand as You have called us and desire us to be; a forgiving people. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.