Go And Sin No More

"Go and sin no more." Whatever happened to 'this' saying of Jesus? 

When Jesus was confronted with the woman taken in the very act of adultery, after her accusers had scattered, He told her "Go and sin no more."  In our society today, it seems that no one wants to accept that anything 'they are doing' is a sin. 

It's honestly not much better in the church. If someone is overtaken in a sin, they simply cry "You can't judge me!" If their sin is addressed, they say that you have a "holier than thou" attitude, or they reply "You without sin cast the first stone!" 

We have a movement today called "Red Letter Christianity". The prevailing thought of the day, in much of Christian leadership, seems to be that if Jesus didn't address it directly I won't either. It's very similar to a political administration's former policy "don't ask don't tell."  Worse yet though, is that the general Christian population seems to feel that if Jesus didn't address it directly it's not something I have to consider in my relationship with God. "What Jesus said I'll do, but what He didn't specifically say is open for interpretation."

But what happened to the portion of that Scripture in John Chapter 8, where Jesus said "Go and sin no more"?  Why have we forgotten that part? Why have we forgotten that Jesus did address the sin?  He called it exactly what it was. Sure, He refused to condemn that woman, but not because she wasn't guilty. It was was because that according to the Law she was 'already condemned!' He didn't have to tell her adultery was wrong, the Law did that.  She knew she was a sinner! According to the Law, her 'worthy-of-death state', had delivered her to the judgment of her accusers. Jesus though gave her mercy. It wasn't because she was sinless, but because He was, and He was willing to take her sin to Calvary with Him. 

I'm certainly not against mercy, I honesty need it as much as anyone. But let's call things what they really are. Sin is still sin! Perhaps Jesus isn't recorded preaching detailed messages specifically about adultery, or sex before marriage, or homosexuality, or something else... But it's because the Law of God had already revealed what sin is.  Sin is anything that transgresses God's Law (1 John 3:4). 

It's as if there no longer a moral standard. There are seemingly no absolutes, where sin is concerned. There is no accountability if one is in error.  "My sin is my own private affair and it's not any of your business."  Well as true as it is, that our own sin is our own business it's also true that those called by God as mouthpieces, (Preachers, Teachers, Prophets, Witnesses) are required by God to preach the whole counsel of God, including sin and repentance.  

How must we preach it?  With fear, and with mercy. How must we identify sin? Is it by the morals of the day? It's it by the standards of the church? Is it by the prevailing thought of our society? No, sin is still identified by the Law of God. Any transgression of the Law of God is sin, plain and simple, albeit somewhat old fashioned.

What must we do with sin? As preachers, we must declare it, and the remedy for it... Which is relationship with God through Jesus. As transgressors, we must repent of it!  ...then go and sin no more! In neither case do we deny it. 

Jesus came to show us the mercy of God. Certainly He desires to forgive us fully, but He also demands that we stop sinning. 

Something Just Snapped...

Yesterday was a long hard day for me. It started about 6:00 am, before daylight, and ended after 9:00 pm last night, well after dark. Early in the day I was 'jumped' by someone, about something that I had absolutely no control over.  I took it well, ignored the assault, forgave them, moved on and passed the test with flying colors. 

Later in the day, I foresaw a different issue that could present itself as a problem later on that night. So I called the person in charge of that project and gave her instructions so there would not be an issue. Later that night though, things fell apart. The I instruction that I had given seemed to have been intentionally, and disrespectfully, ignored and the issue presented itself anyway. This all happened very quickly, within seconds. I was made aware of the situation as it was transpiring, and something just snapped.

I responded badly to a close friend, co-laborer, and sister in Christ. My words were harsh, immediate, and very uncharacteristic of me. I think I was right in addressing the issue, but I was certainly very wrong in my method of addressing it and I had even misunderstood the whole of what was happening. This time, I was the one 'jumping' too quickly. She took it well, ignored my assault, and forgave me graciously. 

I evidently had to face two tests yesterday.  I passed the first, in which I was obviously the victim of being wrongly accused. I handled it well, because I knew the truth.  But I miserably failed the second test, partially because I was overloaded and frustrated, perhaps partially because I hadn't addressed the victim mentality from earlier in the day, but mostly because I didn't know the truth. I wrongly assumed some things, based on the facts available to me. Just like my attacker had done earlier in the day.

I apologized quickly, (perhaps a hundred times) and it was received graciously.  My friend, and sister in The Lord, seems to still truly love and respect me as I also still love and respect the person who jumped to quickly at me, even though an apology never came from him. That doesn't matter though, because 'love covers a multitude of sins.' I forgive him anyway, just because he's human and made a mistake, and because I certainly need grace. 

I'll do my best to give grace, and forgive, even when it isn't requested or maybe not even deserved... Because you see, I really need grace myself. I appreciate the grace I received yesterday because I didn't really deserve it. Who knows, I may not have received it if I hadn't already shown myself willing to give it.  

In any case, I'm just a work in progress, human, fallible, sometimes too quick to judge, too harsh with words, or just all-around grumpy. I'm better than I once was, but not nearly what I hope to be. But that's no excuse, Christ is in me, and therefore I should be displaying Him and not that other stuff. That's why I have to say I'm sorry, just as I have to forgive someone who didn't. 

Pastor, don't feel like it's backing down to apologize. If your wrong, or even if you're right in motive but wrong in your method, say your sorry.  It's okay to make a mistake once in a while, if your willing to own it, and fix it. 

Something just snapped. Looking back, lots of things led up to it, but nothing gave me the right to act that way. What snapped was probably my pride... (Well, I didn't need that anyway.)  Nothing will humble you faster though, than making a fool out of yourself and having to ask forgiveness.  It's best to just not go down that path in the first place but if you do, ask for forgiveness.