Why Are We So Quick To Stone Someone’s Life?
I was 25 when my husband first moved us to Mexico. For me it was a new language and a new culture to learn. I did not realize that because of many of our movies and TV shows, the upper class had some preconceived ideas of we from North of the border. Over the years, I learned to dearly love the Mexican people as I saw their persevering hearts, courage, and their grateful attitudes. But, let’s go back to the beginning. As a young, blonde American girl with a limited Spanish vocabulary; I found I was accepted well among those in the market, the corner store and the taco stand. However, the socially elite women shunned me. They would grab their husband’s arms if anyone tried to introduce me to them. Which leads me to our story.
One night, my husband wanted me to join him with his friends. We left his mother to watch the baby and with some hesitance of heart I went. As the evening went on, my husband had consumed a little too much alcohol. I understood very little of the conversations surrounding me as we had ended up on the balcony of a small restaurant. The balcony was narrow with only one set of stairs to leave by and we were near the back, farthest from the exit. Two tables from us were a group of men who were smoking. Since there was no ashtray on their table they were flicking their cigarettes onto the carpet. I watched as the embers would fall and even slightly flame before dying out. Disgusted and a little concerned we might be trapped behind a wall of blaze; I picked up an ashtray and sat it on their table. Then I turned around to return to my seat when suddenly my husband seemed enraged. He ordered me angrily to leave immediately. Confused, in high heels I found myself walking all alone down the dark streets of Pachuca at midnight.
The street lights were very dim as I started what I knew would be a long 2 mile walk through winding streets to get back home to my baby. I had no money with me for a taxi and besides, I didn’t see any taxis near anyway. About two blocks later, a car pulled up and a man who spoke English said, “Get in, I will take you home.” I had met him before as a friend of my husband; yet, he knew my hesitancy. “Either you get in or I will follow as you walk. I will make certain you get home safe.” He finally convinced me that I could trust him and my feet were hurting. As we drove toward my home, he explained to me that in their culture, what I had done was considered an act of “flirting”. I explained my motives were quite the opposite and came from “disgust.” This gentleman replied, “I know that your motives were very different and your husband knew that; but to save face he did what he did. Then he told me to go follow you and make certain you got home safe.” I had a lot to learn to survive in a culture that didn’t understand or see my heart. I did succeed to win their hearts as they won mine as well; but, it did require forgiveness and mercy from both sides to get there. We are far too quick to throw stones without ever taking the time to understand another person’s heart.
CONDEMNED AND PLACED TO BE STONED
As we began to read John, chapter 8; we were introduced to a woman whom the Pharisees brought to Jesus to be stoned for adultery. You can go back to read more about that encounter in last Monday’s post. They could not see their own prideful hearts of stone and had brought only the woman despite adultery requiring two participants. The accusers all left when Jesus had told them to have the “one who has no sin” to cast the first stone. Rather than to repent of their sin, they had left completely. Yet, the woman with all her brokenness and shame remained. She was forgiven. Then as we come to the end of chapter 8, once more the Pharisees pick up stones to stone someone. This time it was Jesus whom they wanted to stone to death. He was perfect righteousness and they could not see His heart. “Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (John 8:59).
CONCLUSION
What foolish hearts we humans do have. We so often want to condemn another without knowing the truth or seeing their heart. In this case, they were ready to stone the only one who could bring them life and forgiveness. When we take the time to look deep into our own hearts and recognize the mercy we have been given, can we condemn another. Jesus said, ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7). How many more lives could we reach with the gospel if we were a people of mercy and grace? Jesus showed mercy to those who realized their own unworthiness. Sometimes, as Christians we cast aside anyone who has fallen; yet, Jesus taught us to reach out a hand of help to those brothers and sisters who have stumbled. I know that I too have been guilty at times of judging. The nature of the human heart is to judge others so that one might feel superior to other. It is a way of exalting one’s self by making the other person appear to be worse. My prayer is that I never forget the price of God’s mercy for my sinful heart. Then, I can display that mercy to all of whom I meet. [bctt tweet=” In humility of spirit, let me reach others with your heart of love, showing mercy and grace.”]
A song I chose for you today is From the Inside Out
Have you ever been wrongly judged? I would love for you to share your story. Click here to comment.
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. Feel free to email me at Artedabarba@gmail.com or purchase his art at http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/ronald+barba/all
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