Casting Stones

No!

 

Amen, Sibling OldRegular -- Preach it!

 

And what a long sermon that was!

 

Good to hear from you Ed.

 

Texican, a lot of people quote part of this passage ("Let he who is without sin cast the first stone") as a way to justify doing something wrong, especially after their wrong has been pointed out to them, as it was to this mother.

People forget that Jesus said to the woman, "Go and sin no more." That's a good point to remember if someone ever brings this up.

One of my seminary profs said that the men who brought this woman before Jesus were not following the law. They did not bring any witnesses to testify against her, they did not bring the man involved, and there is no evidence that the woman was a betrothed virgin (for which stoning was prescribed in Deut. 22 -- for the virgin and the man). So the men were asking condemnation on this woman by the very law they themselves were not following.

 

I have always planned on getting a nice small polished stone with "1st" painted on it and keep it in my pocket as a constant reminder to "stay the gavel" but still evaluate the situation. Jesus didn't condemn her because He didn't come into the world to condemn it because it was already condemned. He didn't condon her actions and specifically said it was sin.

 

People abuse this verse similarly to Matthew 7:1 "Judge not..." It's amazing what one can find in the context around a verse if one takes the time to look.

 

Christ did not tell them not to scrutinize the woman's behavior, nor did He tell the woman her behavior was "okay." He told her he wouldn't condemn her, and He told her to stop committing that sin.

The scriptures which tell us to correct Christians who are sinning also tells us to lift enlighten and encourage them. There is a tremendous difference in stoning someone and in teaching them and enlightening them.

The scripture that says, "Judge not, lest ye be judged," states that we'll be judged in the same manner in which we judge others. If we judge with hate and cruelty and anger, we're behaving in a way unbecoming a Christian.

A parent's discipline should not be "venting anger," it should be "teaching a child a better way." Christian discipline should not be "venting anger," it should be "teaching a better way."

 

I remember once that Madonna used the same scripture to attack the vatican who were trying to stop her being permitted to perform in Rome.

 

This verse is often quoted without Jesus' concluding remarks.

Jesus calls us to grace. Grace acknowledges sin, forgives and builds up others to further holiness.

 

May I refer the reader to 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

9. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13. But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.