Ask Me Anything: Lines in the Sand
Join us as we address some hot-button topics in the Church through questions submitted by our own members.
Scripture: John 8:2-11
We've all been there – those subjects you'd better avoid discussing at family gatherings: Politics, Religion, and Sexuality. While not an exhaustive list, it's a helpful guideline for keeping the peace. Yet, in today's world, it seems these once-taboo topics have become minefields no matter where you turn. Thanks to the rise of social media and impassioned keyboard warriors, safe spaces for differing opinions are scarce. It's as if everyone is armed with virtual rocks, ready to pounce on anyone who dares to disagree. This is our daily landscape, leaving many of us bewildered about navigating a realm where drawing lines in the sand has become a high-stakes game. In these challenging times, we can turn to the timeless wisdom of Jesus' response in John 8 for insights into how to conduct ourselves when the stakes are high.
In this story, a woman’s life is at stake as the religious leaders use her example as an exercise in testing Jesus’ political stance on adultery and just punishment. This dilemma was especially heated due to the Romans' ban on stoning as a penalty, leaving the Jewish community torn between following Mosaic Law and adhering to Roman culture. Faced with an impossible choice – spare the woman's life and appear lenient, or uphold the law and risk Roman retribution – Jesus found himself caught between a rock (somewhat literally) and a hard place.
Confronted by the hostile crowd, Jesus takes an unexpected approach. Rather than succumbing to the spectacle, he kneels down and starts tracing patterns in the sand. His response isn't hasty; it's deliberate and measured. When he's ready, he breaks his silence with a profound statement: "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." Notice the brilliance in Jesus’ response. He doesn’t ignore the sin but he doesn’t give in to the divisive anger of the mob either. He understands that sin is a real concern, but he's equally concerned about how we address it. Jesus conveys that discussing sin is essential, but not in this manner – not with stones poised for throwing, not amid heated tempers and accusations, and certainly not as a political spectacle. This is more than all of these things. This is a human issue. While the crowd perceives a polarizing political matter demanding Jesus' alignment, he discerns a human dilemma that has severed a soul from its Source. In other words, while we’re all busy drawing lines in the sand between each other, Jesus stoops down to our level to show us that the only line that truly matters is the one separating us and him. Sure enough, the only one who is able to throw the first stone is Jesus and yet he says to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you”. The scene transitions from a bustling angry crowd to an intimate moment between a woman burdened by shame and her compassionate Creator. All the while, Jesus also seems very much at peace with what the people might think of him. He is unfazed by public perception. Accusations may spread that he’s soft on ethics or that he endorses adultery but amidst all the speculation, Jesus demonstrates a grace-filled truth that transcends our differences. More than a sexual ethic or a political quandary, Jesus sees past it all and recognizes the human who is at the heart of every issue.
Study Questions:
How do you approach discussions about politics, religion, and sexuality in your personal interactions? Have you noticed any changes in the way these conversations have evolved with the rise of social media and online platforms?
Have you ever found yourself caught between two opposing sides and not knowing which side to pick? How did it feel?
Reflecting on the story of Jesus' encounter in John 8, what aspects of his response stood out to you the most? How might his approach influence the way we engage in challenging conversations today?
How can we strike a balance between addressing wrongdoing (sin) and maintaining a compassionate approach when discussing sensitive topics? What are some practical ways to uphold both truth and empathy in our conversations?
What would it look like for us to be more at peace with our public perception amidst controversial topics?
