Who’s Guilty?
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“Jesus once set a guilty woman free from her accusers by showing that the people who were judging her were just as guilty of sin as she was. “All right, stone her,” He said to the religious leaders who were ready with stones in hand, to deliver the judgment she indeed deserved. “But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones”” John 8:7, NLT
This incident shows us something very important about our purpose as Christians living in a world of sinners. Our job is not to throw judgment upon sinners, but to identify with them. The Pharisees and religious leaders were trying to separate themselves from this sinful woman they had found in the act of committing adultery. By judging her they were going to be able to feel much better about themselves. Jesus put a stop to their little charade by putting them in the same boat with the woman they were accusing. They were just as guilty.
It is so tempting to think, especially after being a Christian for a while and spending a lot of time around Christians, that you are better than other people. You start to separate yourself from sinners, forgetting it was your sin that brought you to Christ in the first place. I know this because I’m so good at it.
The gospel comes best from people who identify with the sins of others, because they have become so familiar with their own sin. It is noted in the account that as the self-righteous leaders were convicted by the presence of sin in their own lives, “they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest” (John 8:9 NLT). That makes sense. The oldest would be the ones most aware of their own sinfulness. There comes a time in your life when you can’t fool yourself anymore. There were probably a few young, arrogant idealists who hung on as long as possible, but even they had to finally give in to the truth about their own guilt.
The proliferation of both spoken and unspoken judgment found primarily within Christians, has forced many into the world, unarmed and without a known Christian friend and mutual sinner. We are constantly trying to separate ourselves from a world that Jesus wants us in. Not only that, He wants us to see our own sin and not make such a big fuss over everyone else’s. Our sin nature is our connection with our neighbor, our salvation is our hope, and the good news of the gospel is our message.
Sinners can spot a mile away the hypocrisy of proclaiming a gospel about the forgiveness of everyone’s sins but your own.
Question: Jesus preached more about hypocrisy than most other topics; do you see hypocrisy in the church (or yourself) and how can we (and you) start correcting this?
thank you for this article good article to think about
Wow, you said it so well. Haven’t heard it quite put that way….makes us think doesn’t it. And I have some giants in my life too that I wrestle with daily. Jesus was almost helpless when he saw a multitude, He was compassion driven and often the disciples gritted their teeth. Even they often didn’t have that same compassion for the lost and only wanted to send them home like the feeding of the 5000. Jesus couldn’t help himself. He looked beyond their faults and saw their need just like he does ours. I’ve really “blown it” in my life and I’ve received much forgiveness for my sins and help through my struggles when I humble myself before my Lord. I guess that’s why I have the same compassion for those who don’t know that precious salvation and forgiveness and peace in their lives. Me? I can’t afford to think of myself in any way other than “just as I am without one plea” and help the others to find the only means of escape from sin’s dreadful clutches and that is the Gift that the Father has given through His only begotten Son, Jesus. Do I still struggle? You bet I do, and I come to the Father and throw myself at His feet also. Daily! Sometimes many times “daily”. He doesn’t have any stones in his hand! Why should I!?
we love it when God is forgiving us but we also love to see others get what they deserve.
Wow, this dev. really cuts deep, which is a good thing for me. Just like many of your readers I have no doubt, I’ve experienced this judgement for myself…going both ways. I been judged unfairly, and I’ve judged unfairly. No matter how subtle I feel my jugement of others is, I can’t deny it’s existence. But as Christ says, let those who haven’t sinned throw the first stone. Give that more than just lip service. We have to internalize that message and literally live by it, to attempt NOT to fall into a place of scorn for others.
I especially like how the author relates the Christian falling back into a world of loneliness once this judgement has turned them away from their church family. It’s hits home because it’s true. We’re all sinners and we have to accept that in order to make through this world together. I pray that each of us can forgive and then forget the thing that they may be holding them back from a true journey with Christ. God bless!