Accuser

This thought of accusing others has been on my mind quite a bit lately. Not just because the past couple of posts have been on different versions of the word "accuse", but also because my fiance and I are reading this book together called The Peacegiver. One thought that this book emphasis over and over is that one of the first steps to healing and developing a loving relationship with those around us is to stop judging and condemning others.

In John chapter 8, there is a story of Jesus that I have always loved. A woman who is caught committing adultery is brought to Jesus and the Pharisees ask Jesus what they should do about her. The law said that those committing adultery should be put to death, but Jesus turns the question on the Pharisees and says that whoever has never sinned can kill her. They all sort of guiltily wander away at that point, and Christ asks so lovingly:

"Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?"

When the woman responds that no one is left, Christ says that he will not condemn her and to go and sin no more.

Sometimes I wondering who in this story I am. I guess it switches, that some days I'm the woman hoping beyond hope for the mercy of Christ to make the accusers in my life go away, while other days I'm bringing others before him demanding justice.