It’s been a while since I’ve read the Bible, but I remember enough of it to be completely disgusted by public statements by those who profess themselves to be Christians, and yet are some of the most hateful, uncharitable persons to be given their 15 minutes. I suppose that the self-congratulatory smirking and strutting of the Christian Right following the election has been weighing on my mind, since, well, they’re still talking about it. I’ve also been disturbed by the tone taken by talking heads regarding the recent execution in California. Lots of things along the lines of “Why did it take so long?” and “There’s still a big backlog of people to kill.” I don’t oppose the death penalty because I’m a Christian. I oppose it because I distrust the State. But I find it odd that the Christian Right (and Libertarians, for that matter) have allied themselves with a political party that is supposedly “tough on crime.”
But I digress.
Here’s today’s Bible passage:
John 8:1-11
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
This is a simple, funny, and beautiful story.
The Pharisees are like any dogmatic bureaucrats, and we enjoy the fact that Jesus ignores them completely and keeps writing. It’s like Peter walking right past Lumbergh in Office Space. But more important than giving the Man the bird, Jesus tells us to have compassion and empathy for our fellow man. Even… and I want to make this absolutely clear… even if they do say, “Jehovah.”