Don't Pick Up Any Stones

John 7:53: And every man went unto his own house.

John 8:1-11: Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

In the light of recent publicity regarding the revelation that a prominent Christian leader had been engaged in untoward behavior with women, many in the religious community have voiced their opinions, criticisms, and shock at the news. Few have extended grace to the well-known apologist.

Unfortunately all this has been discovered after the man’s decease and he is not available to issue any kind of statement concerning the matter.

While thinking about these things the words of my title came to me: Don’t pick up any stones. Immediately I remembered this story in today’s scriptures. I have been slow to render an opinion on the matter except to allow for grace to be my preferred position for several different reasons.

On the day that these words came to me, Don’t pick up any stones, I more so understood why I would be better off staying out of the discussion.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

If the religious peeping Toms were allowed to speak against me I am sure accusations would rise loudly. I have no room for stone gathering.

As the woman’s accusers, I am not without sin. So let me walk away and leave the matter in the hands of Jesus.

His response is what I often needed to hear and I have heard.

Neither do I condemn thee.

Concerning this man to whom I refer in this writing, and any individual, leader or otherwise, that has a failing, I will make every effort to be Christ like, that is without condemnation.

I do not want the weight of stones to slow me down on my journey.

-PJF-

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