Drop Your Stone and Pray - The Right Response to Sin

I recently read of a local pastor who had been accused of a sinful and shameful act. This man was a leader, a teacher, a councilor, and a theologian lead astray by sexual temptation.  I can hear the murmurs of unbelievers who caught wind of the story, mocking the man, mocking Christianity, and generally using the account as an argument against God.  Not surprising because the unbeliever often looks for a slip of the tongue, an inconsistency in moral conduct, or hypocrisy to say, "Look, he's no different than anyone else; maybe even worse!"

Maybe you know this story or one like it.  Maybe you had feelings of disgust, anger, sadness, bitterness, or judgement.  What should the believer's response be to the sin of a fellow believer, even when the sin is particularly offensive or egregious? Not to be cliche-ish, but WWJD?  (For those not from this planet - What Would Jesus Do?)

Now let me first say that there are earthy consequences for breaking the law and for sin in general but this is not about what happens in the court of law but what happens in the human heart.  What is the internal dialogue that goes on in your head when you hear a story of someone else's fall? What is the external dialogue that happens as you discuss the story with your friends and family?  What is whispered from ear to ear down the length of the church pew and at the church's Wednesday evening potluck? "Can you believe . . .?"  "He seemed like such a nice man."

So, did you pick up your stone yet?

There was a woman "caught in adultery" who was brought to Jesus by the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees.  They "made her stand before the group."  I assume "caught in adultery" means that someone walked in on the act which, I imagine, was quite embarrassing but then making her stand before the group was humiliating.  Deserved?  Maybe yes, maybe no but how did Jesus respond when the Pharisees asked him if she should be stoned, as required by Old Testament Law?  With his finger writing in the dust of the ground, Jesus said, "Let anyone of you who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her."  One by one the stones fell to the ground as they walked away.

If you have a stone in your hand, you might want to loosen the grip just a little.

In Luke chapter 6 Jesus said, "Do not judge and you will not be judged." Then, in chapter 7,  he followed with "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged."

Loosening the grip a little more?

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told his followers, "You have heard that is was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment." and "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Feel the stone starting to slip from your hand?

The Apostle Paul will pry the last two fingers from your stone with these words: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life." Herod Antipas (who beheaded John the Baptist), Cain (who killed his brother Abel), Jezebel (who sacrificed babies to the idol Baal and murdered many prophets), yet Paul says twice that he was the WORST OF SINNERS! Thud! Your stone should be on the ground.

Now within Christian leadership there is accountability and consequences for overt sin and rebellion which the elders will hopefully handle biblically with love and grace through prayer both to protect the flock as well as to bring the straying back in line through repentance.  Jesus was clear that leaders and teachers would be held to a higher standard and Paul taught us that God "chastens those he loves." But, this post is not about consequences as much as is is about the hearts of fellow believers toward the sinner. Hearts of judgment, bitterness, hatred, or disgust versus hearts of grace, compassion, combined with prayers for repentance, healing, and restoration.  God says his "grace is sufficient" for us, for little sins and for big ones.  I pray for this man, for his family, for his church, for his school, for those he offended, and for you and me (that we would remember without the Cross of Christ we too would be condemned).

Peace,

David

Heirs to the Promise - The Wonder of Adoption

It's a crisp, sunny, eight-degree morning in Northern Michigan and I'm writing from the comfort of a cozy cabin that sits on the crystal clear Manistee River (OK, it's a wonderful cedar house that my buddy Bob calls "The Cabin").   On the floor to my left, in front of the old stone fireplace, sits a most adorable, two year old girl enthusiastically disassembling the Mousetrap game that my sons worked so hard to assemble.  Her name is Maiya (pronounced my-ya)

Maiya is from China.  A year and a half ago she was without a family, lived in a foreign land, and had no one to call "Daddy"  (or "Mamma").  She was born into the world but soon became a ward of the state.  She had no rights and had no inheritance.  But, she wasn't alone in her aloneness.  No, she was alone in the midst of thousands of other lonely, parent-less children.  Then came love from a far away land.

Some one (actually a wonderful couple I know) sacrificed much to bring her home and to give her all the rights of a natural born child.  They gave her a new last name, a new home, new clothes, and daily fed her so that she would grow up strong.  They also disciplined her when she strayed because they loved her.  She received citizenship from her new country and with that citizenship came many new privileges. Such is the beauty of ADOPTION.

From the moment sin came into the world in the Garden of Eden, man became a ward of the state, or more specifically the ward of the world.  Man didn't cease to be God's creation but the bible tells us that we ceased to be his children.  That might not sit well with you and doesn't particularly sit well with me but it is truth none-the-less.  We no longer had rights as children and were no longer heirs to God's promise.  We were born into the world but lost our legal rights.  But like Maiya, we weren't alone in our aloneness.  We were alone with every child born through natural birth; our first birth.  Thankfully, as in Maiya's case, there is the hope of love coming from a far away land, love coming from someone who would sacrifice much for our adoption, love that would reclaim our birthright as children of God.

The Apostle John describes it this way (John 1:12-13):

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

That's the wonder of adoption.  Children become legal heirs with rights, not because of their natural descent but because of the love of another.

Jesus explained it to Nicodemus who was a Jewish leader, a Pharisee.  Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."  Nicodemus, not quite getting it, asked Jesus, "How can a man be born when he is old?  Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"  Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born  of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."

You see, Jesus was telling us that our natural birth (the one that was the product of human decision, the product of a fleshly union) wasn't enough to get us into God's kingdom.  Maiya didn't have to enter into her new mother's womb to be born into her new family (thank goodness) but she was adopted through a legal transaction from a higher authority.  In other words, we needed adoption by the power and love of another.  That love comes by God's Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.  Just as my friends traveled a very long distance and sacrificed much to secure the adoption of their daughter, Jesus came from the comfort of heaven and made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our adoption.  On the cross Jesus paid the price for our adoption and when the transaction was complete he cried out, "It is finished".

The Apostle Paul explained it to the Church (Born Again believers) in Galatia (Galatians 3:26-29):

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Even though many of those to whom Paul was writing were not descendants of Abraham, they became descendants and heirs through faith in Christ and the resultant second birth.

Are you among the lonely?  Are you living without the promise of eternal life?  You see Maiya didn't have to work her way to the United States.  She didn't have to write a check to her new mommy and daddy to cover her travel costs.  She didn't have to do anything except believe.  I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that this beautiful little child believes with all of her heart that the man and woman who put her to bed every night are indeed her parents.  And guess what?  She's right!  Her parents came to her because they loved her and God comes to you for the same reason.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

I am so thankful that my friends traveled to China to give this adorable girl a home and I thank Jesus Christ for coming from heaven to give me one.  May God bless you this New Year and if you have been adopted into his family give him thanks today and it you are looking for a love that no one can take away look to the Son in faith and come into the family of God.

Peace,

David