Ever so slightly indignant

In light of certain events, I would like to step on my soap box for a moment... Since this is, in fact, my own personal soap box.

My best friend is being judged in a terrible way. Things in his past, events that don't necessarily matter anymore, are being rehashed just to hurt him. Old mistakes are being unearthed for no reason other than to condemn and to judge. And it really bothers me...

Well, when I was thinking about this tonight while I was at Target, what kept coming to my mind was the story of the woman caught in adultery. Which lead me to a few conclusion, keeping this situation in mind, that I feel the need to share.

Everyone knows the story of the adulterous woman. When the pharisees caught her in the act of adultery and pulled her into the streets wearing a sheet, she was at her lowest point. She was publicly humiliated and her sin was displayed for everyone to see. They were about to kill her for her sins, until Jesus stepped in. He saw beyond the sin, He saw what the pharisees couldn't see. He saw her heart. He knew that she had more potential than what she had been exhibiting.

When He stopped them from throwing stones, He didn't just save her, He taught us a lesson about forgiveness. He didn't write the sin off, but he forgave her and told her not to sin again. Jesus didn't condemn her, like He could have, like they expected Him to. Jesus, rather, challenged the accusers. Every single day we sin. It's our human nature to sin and to want what we want instead of what God wants. Every person, no matter how righteous they think they are, deserves to go to hell for everything they've done. Include me right in there. And every sin we commit is equal in God's eyes. From murder to white lies. It's all the same.

That's why it burns me up when people judge others like they have some right to. Sin is sin and if a person says they're without sin, then they're committing a sin by lying. Yes, my best friend made mistakes. No, I'm not excusing the behavior. But, I think what Jesus was doing in this instance was not only saving someone, but showing us how to save others. When we judge and condemn, we're speaking death over someone instead of cultivating life. We, as Christians, should be the last to condemn and the first to forgive. If we're supposed to be Christ-like how could we knowingly do otherwise?

I mean, aren't you glad He sees beyond the sin in our lives? That He sees our hearts and allows us to live to fulfill our potential? Because I know that, personally, I am so unworthy of the grace He gives me, but He chooses to anyways because He loves me... and He wants me for His own.

God wants to forgive, that's why Jesus died for us willingly. Every sin is covered in the blood Jesus shed and because of His sacrifice, it is forgotten forever. If God can forgive and forget that easily, just like that, when we hurt Him so many times, how do we have any room to not do the same for others in our lives? How can we expect others to believe God can save and forgive them, if they see that we can't let go of the past?

The answer is simple... Leave the baggage behind. Lay it down and don't look back. Let God have it all because He wants it all. There's no room for it in our Christian walks. In order to change the world, we need to show people the example Jesus gave us instead of just talking about it. Not a perfect example, but a real one. The one tempered with His love.

So, stop judging and reach out and truly show Jesus' heart for His people. It'll make all the difference.