Smug and hypocritical? – 29 April 2008

Sometimes there are 2 types of sin – our own and everyone else’s. God finds sin abhorrent, and sometimes we can display the same attitude towards the sins of others. Our judgement of other sinners should always be tempered with the self-knowledge of our own sin. Who among us can say “hand on heart” that we are not sinners and don’t have our own issues with sin to bring before God each day?

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:7-11 [NIV]

This is taken from the passage where a woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus by the Pharisees. What is interesting is the way Jesus deflects the situation back to the onlookers – resulting in a change of attitude. The proud would-be stoners become the thoughtful and shamed sinners in front of Jesus – no lecture is required.

There was someone there who was without sin and could have thrown the first stone (Jesus). But Jesus did not seek to condemn – only to encourage repentance (a change of direction).

Lord, help us to be honest with our self examination – keep us from judgementalism and hypocrisy. Help us to follow Jesus’ example. Amen