Healing the Wounded

Whether you are present at a church every Sunday; only attend a service on special holiday (or family) occasions; or seldom darken the doors of a house of worship (for a variety of reasons); a variety of today’s churches can often be translated as being intolerant (and judgmental). Is this entirely accurate?

One of the best biblical analogies for the climate of the church is the story of the adulterous woman found in John 8:1-11 (ERV). Please read it below:

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he went back to the Temple area. The people all came to him, and he sat and taught them.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in bed with a man who was not her husband. They forced her to stand in front of the people. 

They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  The Law of Moses commands us to stone to death any such woman. What do you say we should do?”

They were saying this to trick Jesus. They wanted to catch him saying something wrong so that they could have a charge against him. But Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 

The Jewish leaders continued to ask him their question. So he stood up and said, “Anyone here who has never sinned should throw the first stone at her.” Then Jesus stooped down again and wrote on the ground.

 When they heard this, they began to leave one by one. The older men left first, and then the others. Jesus was left alone with the woman standing there in front of him.  He looked up again and said to her, “Where did they all go? Did no one judge you guilty?”

She answered, “No one, sir.”

Then Jesus said, “I don’t judge you either. You can go now, but don’t sin again.”

Many of us metaphorically-speaking have either played the role of the adulterous woman (“Antalya”) or the Pharisee (“Phidias”) in a church environment.

In the above scripture, it is evident Antalya was scared, ashamed, betrayed, and exposed. Chances are she was dirty, messy, and was partially covered by a thin sheet (from her bed).

The man she loved had deserted her when she needed him most (as he is nowhere to be found in this account). She could soon be stoned for her crime of passion. Antalya’s lover may have left because Jewish law (Deuteronomy 22:22) said that he was subject to the same death as her, stoning.

More often, churches resemble a chaotic war zone (where lots people are turning into battle casualties in an assortment of ways) rather than a hospital (where true healing is in order). 

Have you ever felt any of Antalya’s emotions in a house of worship you have been a part of? Like many of us today, this was probably not the first time Antalya had fallen short of God’s standard of perfection. (Romans 3:23)

On the other hand, Phidias the Pharisee wanted the law enforced completely with Antalya. He was a self-righteous hypocrite that most assuredly ignored all of his own sinful shortcomings like having compassion for others.

How many people have you met in church that makes sure you know clearly that they you are spiritually inferior to them? Instead of bringing you closer to a needed relationship with God the opposite happens as the distance widens with their actions.

Jesus chose to accept Antalya as she was. (John 8:10-11, Matthew 22:36-40) He chose to defend her basic right of worth and respect to those that doubted (and were trying to trick Him with their questions). As you know, Jesus cannot be fooled because He always knows the real truth of a situation.

At the end of His time with Antalya, Jesus chose to leave her with a gentle reminder (rather than a harsh condemnation). In love, He called Antalya to a higher purpose. (John 8:11, Romans 6:1-2, John 10:10)

At times, it might seem the best way to bring someone to Christ is to throw at them every Bible verse that speaks against what they are doing wrong. That will instead build a lot of resentment from them towards you (and ultimately towards the Almighty).

Ignore their imperfections (like you do yours), and instead be devoted to others as much as you feel a duty for your own well-being. (Matthew 22:39)

God will use your genuine love to facilitate the true changes He wants made in that person’s life. (Another great service you can offer is prayer to Heaven for this individual’s growth. Change will happen.)

*Inspired by the sermon “The Mythbuster Series, Installment Five: The Acceptance Myth,” Jon Jansen, June 19, 2016, Father’s Day, CenterPoint Church Gahanna, Gahanna, OH