Caught In The Act: An Inappropriate Ask

Many times we are presented with a situation, and asked to make a judgment, when it’s not our responsibility to do so. Like now. Why is all of this stuff coming out all over the place as if somehow we should judge?

I know for a fact that many times in years past, these types of things would be dealt with in private–for the protection of the innocence of the people at large! Wicked people guilty of horrific crimes would go to jail or be sent to death row for what they had done, but no mention would be made in public except for the barest record in the news. So why is all this sordid detail being revealed to the public?

One reason I have heard is to justify the arrest of popular figures. Some say we have to understand the depth of the crimes for us to be angry enough that we would allow, say, a beloved movie star, to go to prison.

But I think there is another, darker reason: When evil is exposed, we can’t help but be affected by it. It disheartens and discourages honest people, but emboldens and gives perverse ideas to those who are corrupt. Knowledge of the depth and sickness of evil has the power to defile.

Even the tip of the iceberg is a dreadful thing to know. Children, especially, need to be protected from the explicit content out there. I am convinced that we are only being shown select things in order to drive us into a rage; it is similar to what the Pharisees hoped to do to Jesus.

In the case of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus sidestepped their “Hobson’s Choice” and went right to the root of the issue. With just one sentence, He showed the accusers that each one of them was unsuitable to be her judge. Each one was pricked in his own conscience, and guiltily slipped away!

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

We are all sinners. And when we spend some time, as King David did, asking God to point out where we can improve, He will faithfully show each one of us what must be done.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23,24)

We cannot see ourselves very well; and even tend to justify ourselves when we do see a flaw. But a good friend will point it out to us, discreetly (with love), so that we don’t look like a fool. (For instance, if we have mustard on our cheek, we may not even know it until we get in front of a mirror in the evening.)

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:6)

We must stand against evil, but we must also be careful about how–or if–we react. Why?

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)

Pointing out another person’s sin while still living in sin ourselves is like pointing out that someone’s canoe is going down while you are with them in that same canoe! Neither the size of the hole in the canoe, nor the side of the canoe that it’s on, matters: Both people will soon be in the water!

(Read the next post, Caught In The Act: The Ultimate Judge)

(Read from the beginning of this series.)