Casting Stones Not Crowns

I have to be honest… I'm a stone chucker! I can cast stones at people with the best of 'em! I have even been the first one to throw a stone, and even the only one to throw a stone or two! I find myself in judgment of others often; and as I have judged others, God I hope and pray they are not judging me.

I tend to judge people even though I would not totally consider it judgment!!!! I mean am I really judging someone when my service at a restaurant sucks and all I do is talk bad about that person and tell everyone how much better I would be if I were waiting the table? What about on the roads of your city, do you think your driving is far superior to EVERYONE around you? Is anyone else convinced people are complete idiots (oooppps there I go judging again) when it comes to driving? What about at work, church, your kids schools, teachers, etc. The list could go on and on couldn't it? I would like to share one thought.

I find myself thinking that I'm better than others a lot. It never comes across that way because it is mostly in my head or out loud in the car when I'm by myself; occasionally when I'm with Shanda and/or Myles in the car etc. This might seem trivial and I certainly would have defended myself to the ends of the earth, but God has His own ideas. The other day I kept hearing Jesus telling the Pharisees, "He that is without sin, cast the first stone". Now Jesus said this about a woman who deserved to be stoned according to the Jewish law! In other words according to the way people were judged in Jesus day, these guys had every right to throw some stones with vicious intent! And isn't this often the case when we gripe and complain about people? Most of the time I get frustrated with a situation or someone, I do have the "right" to do so; lets face it people can't drive very well sometimes (you know who you are ?), we do get lousy service all of the time at restaurants, in drive thru's, and anywhere else you wait in a line that is way too long! The truth is everyone makes mistakes and we will be affected by the mistakes of others all the time; this would be what we call life!!! Okay back to Jesus and the woman… Jesus wasn't saying the law is wrong in it's judgment of her, he was simply saying to the accusers, okay if she is going to be stoned today for her bad deeds, lets see who can start the party, he that is without works against God's word (the Torah, the Law), go for it…you start, throw out the first pitch!

You may have heard someone say Jesus was showing this women mercy because He had the right to throw the first stone and didn't…this of coarse is true but I would add that Jesus was modeling mercy for us. Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy"(Matt 5:7) I believe Jesus was saying, this is how I want my followers to act…when someone deserves a good stoning, a good verbal lashing, or a good kick in the butt by telling the manager what a LOSER they are, maybe we are to listen and react to the words of Jesus. Are you perfect, do you make mistakes, have you ever had a bad day, and the way you drove, served, or treated others was seriously affected? I would assume the answer is a resounding yes! For me the past 4 months have been a little out of character for me and I'm sure I have deserved a stoning or two! And because of this time in my life God is showing me that I will never know what others are going through and I have no right to form judgments about others from one simple interaction with them! I believe there is another question Jesus would ask us. How would you like people to treat you in your worst of days? How do you want people to react to your shortcomings and bad days? Would you like someone to offer a measure of grace you didn't earn, but an offer of grace you need just because you are having a bad day, maybe a bad year, and for some a bad life! Wouldn't it be nice if during your bad day, week, or month the very people who are affected by your mistakes didn't get angry or judgmental, and they simply asked if you are okay and sincerely wanted to know if there is anything they can do for you?

I believe at the core of what Jesus is saying to us is we should not judge someone for what they do, what they say, or how they act, even if it is completely opposite to the ways of Jesus and deserving of every terrible thing you really want to say! I believe Jesus is asking us to judge others, as we want to be judged, and to offer grace to others, as we would want others to offer grace to us in our times of shortcoming! I don't know about you, but I expect people to show me grace every time I screw up!

This has become a challenge to me everyday, because like many others I have come to believe I am better than most, I have an authority on many things because I have been there and done that…so everyone should be able to figure it out like I have. And then God shows me maybe I don't have it all figured out just like I think, and maybe I need to look at others as I want them to look at me if I were in their shoes!!!! May we all be quick to hold our stones when we want to throw them most!!

Peace
Tony