Go and Sin No More

Last updated on: December 15, 2012 at 10:56 pm by Andrew Marin

Go and Sin No More 2012-12-15T22:56:15-06:00 Andrew Marin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The following post was written by Kevin Harris, Director of Community Relations at The Marin Foundation.

You will often hear Christians with a more conservative view of scripture as it relates to homosexuality say that they must share their faith with grace and truth when it comes to engaging the gay and lesbian community. Translated from Christianese, that can basically be read as “while sharing your faith, don’t forget to speak about your understanding of homosexuality as it relates to your theological perspective and tell those that you disagree with in a loving and compassionate way that they are wrong and living in sin.” While I don’t completely disagree with their reasoning as I believe that individuals should be true to what they believe, I have a hard time making the connection between scripture and this philosophy when I look to the life of Jesus and the examples used to back up this thinking.

Individuals will typically reference John 8: 1-11 that speaks of the woman caught in adultery as a basis for the belief that it is their duty to tell others to “go and sin no more”. After Jesus stops her accusers from stoning her, he follows that up by saying “Go now, and leave your life of sin.” While using this as justification to call others out, I think that individuals often fail to focus on Jesus’ actions leading up to that statement that gave him the authority to tell her to “go and sin no more.” Jesus stood up for her to preserve her dignity while they were trying to humiliate her as they could have kept her in private custody while they spoke to Jesus. He then proceeded to save her life and did not condemn her according to the law as he could have. He connected with her in a very profound way that paved the way for her to be able to follow him. After meeting her at her place of need and his actions on her behalf, he would have almost been justified in telling her anything as she owed everything she had to him. She also would have been incredibly thankful and thus receptive to what he had to say as he earned the right to speak into her life.

Jesus was described as being full of grace and truth (John 1:14 & John 1:17) when he came to dwell among humanity, but despite those references to his character he did not just go around telling everyone to “leave their life of sin.” Jesus talked about repentance and called out the religious leaders, but after reading through the four gospel accounts I only found one other instance where Jesus told a sole individual to stop sinning. In John 5:1-15, after healing a man of his physical ailments, he proceeds to tell him to stop sinning. Once again, his bold statement was foreshadowed by helping the person that he was speaking to in a profound way that changed the course of his life.

So if speaking with grace and truth into someone’s life means attempting to follow Jesus’ example of positively impacting individuals’ lives and loving in dramatic, life altering ways before speaking your ‘truth’ instead of just using it as a justification to tell anyone and everyone your beliefs about them in a graceful manner, I would be happy to see it more often.

Much love.

www.themarinfoundation.org

Guest Posts

Sexuality

Theology

Previous Post

November 28, 2010

I'm in Geneva, Switzerland until Dec 5

Next Post

November 30, 2010 When God Throws a Party

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Bridging Opposing Worldviews Culture Don't Drink and Drive Faith Guest Posts I'm Sorry Campaign Interviews Language Laura Statesir LGBT Living in the Tension Living in the Tension Gatherings Love Is an Orientation Love Is an Orientation Blog Love Is an Orientation Book Love Is an Orientation DVD Melinda Guerra Memory My One Sentence Bible Newsletter Our Last Option Parents & Families Politics Quick Quotes Quotes ReEngaging Civility Sexuality Speaking The Marin Foundation Theology Uncategorized Us Versus Us Videos Warren Perry Youth and Campus Ministry

Select a Month June 2016 May 2016 December 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz