Judgment Day
Judgment Day
When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
The Bigger They Are . . .
It happens far too often these days. A sports star, politician, actor, or some other rank-and-file celebrity messes up, and the public pounces. Fueled by an insatiable 24-7 news cycle, we can examine the fallout from every conceivable angle—and then some. Consumers say they’re tired of scandals, yet ratings skyrocket nonetheless.
Some people seem to take an almost perverse pleasure in seeing the mighty tumble. Stars who were once heroes cheered by millions are now drowning in a sea of accusation with virtually no hope of being rescued. They’ve gone from hero to zero in no time flat, and no one really seems to care.
Throwing Stones
To figure out how Jesus feels about this, a Christian needs to go no further than John 8:1–11. In the well-known story of the woman caught in adultery, the scribes and Pharisees are sure they’ve painted Jesus into a corner. They feel morally superior to this woman. There is no love or compassion in their accusations.
Yet Jesus’ answer is perfect in its simplicity. Go ahead and kill her, He seems to be saying, but only if you are without fault. Remember His counsel the next time a famous person, or even someone you know, is disgraced. Rather than pile on, offer grace and mercy.
Bottom Line
Celebrity scandals show all too clearly that famous people aren’t perfect. But then again, neither are you. No one is. Judgmentalism is prideful.