Cast the first stone

I am often taken aback by how quickly we, as church people, can move toward banishment when it comes to someone else’s sin, especially the sins of women.

We speak of grace, but sometimes practice exclusion.

We preach restoration, but too often respond with judgment.

One of the most powerful moments in Scripture is the story found in John 8 - the woman caught in adultery and dragged into public shame. Surrounded by religious leaders ready to condemn her.

But Jesus did something unexpected.

He didn’t join the outrage.
He didn’t participate in the spectacle.
He didn’t ask for her résumé of mistakes.

Instead, He said:

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.”

One by one, they walked away.

The Danger of Becoming a Modern-Day Pharisee

It’s easy to read that story and assume we would never behave that way.

But if we’re honest, the spirit of the Pharisee still tries to creep into our churches and into our hearts.

Anytime we:

• Exposing someone’s failure to make ourselves feel righteous,
• Whisper about someone’s struggle instead of praying for them,
• Treat people like their sin disqualifies them from God’s presence…

We are dangerously close to picking up stones of our own.

Jesus didn’t come to shame sinners. He came to save them.

The Gospel is about mercy.
The Gospel is about grace.
The Gospel is about restoration.

We Fall… But We Get Up

There’s a line in Donnie McClurkin’s song that says:

“We fall down, but we get up.
For a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up.”

That’s the message of Christ.

Not perfection.
Not performance.
But redemption.

It is not our job to push people out of the very place meant to help them heal.

How can we, who have needed grace ourselves, deny it to someone else?

Jesus’ Ministry Was Always Inclusive

Jesus spent His time with:

• Tax collectors
• Prostitutes
• Thieves
• The broken
• The rejected
• The ones society had already written off

If the sinless Son of God could extend compassion, who are we to withhold it?

Scripture reminds us:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

All means all.
Not them.
Not just you.
All of us.

A Call to Examine Ourselves

Before we judge someone else’s journey, we must remember:

We are saved by grace, not by our own righteousness.
We stand because of mercy, not because we earned it.

So instead of asking, “How could they?”
Maybe we should ask, “Lord, help me love like You do.”

The next time you feel tempted to look down on someone else, remember the words of Jesus:

“He that is without sin, cast the first stone.”

Then drop your stone… and extend grace.