The Citizen, 1988-09-21, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1988.
From the Minister's Study
Who'll cast the first stone
BY REV. BONNIE LAMBLE
WALTON-BLUEVALE
PASTORAL CHARGE
Many years ago there were
among God’s faithful people a
group who prided themselves on
being very obedient to God. They
knew God’s laws backwards and
forwards and they were dedicated
to living out these laws.
These people were well respect
ed in the community. If there was
behavior. The United Church is not
saying that anything goes. The
standard of behaviour is obedience
to Jesus Christ.
But let’s go back to the original
story. Those who were prepared to
cast stones at the woman did not
cease in their determination to stop
the young rabbi. They even picked
up stones to cast at him but he
slipped away unharmed. But they
did not give up. Finally they had
their way. The young rabbi was
executed on Calvary’s hill. The
stone throwers thought they had
won the victory for God but the real
victory was in the words of the Son
of God, “Father, forgive them; for
they know not what they do.”
Where do you stand today?
Among the stone throwers or with
the Son of God?
A Blyth Christian highway
Reformed Church 4 BLYTH
September 25-10a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Rev. S. Wilts from Cambridge
Sunday School 11:00a.m.
The Church of the “Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20”
Back to God Hour 10:30a.m.CKNX, Sunday
Faith20 5:00a.m. weekdays, GlobalT.V.
ALL VISITORS WELCOME
any weakness in their character, it
was that of being a little too proud
of how they lived. Also they were
not very tolerant of those who did
not live as righteously as they did.
They had particular trouble with a
popular young rabbi who was
known to break God’s law espe
cially on the Sabbath. They knew
that this rabbi must be stopped and
they looked for ways to trap him.
One day they had a perfect
opportunity. They caught a woman
in the act of adultery. According to
God’s law such a woman was to be
stoned to death. They brought the
woman before the young rabbi and
asked him what he thought. For
awhile he seemed to ignore them
and bent down and wrote with his
finger in the dust. When they
pressed him, he simply responded,
“Let him who is without sin among
you be the first to throw a stone at
her.” One by one the woman’s
accusers slunk away. “Has no one
condemned you?” the rabbi asked
the woman. She said, “No one,
Lord.” And the young rabbi
replied, “Neither do I condemn
you; go and do not sin again.”
As 1 hear of the present uproar in
the United Church of Canada I
can’t help but think of this story in
the life of Jesus. I hear people,
poised with stones ready to fire,
using scripture to condemn gays
and lesbians. These folk who
condemn firmly believe that they
are on God’s side and that they are
right. They are very angry with the
United Church just like the scribes
and Pharisees were angry with
Jesus.
Yet I believe that the United
Church’s General Council has
struggled to be faithful to our Lord
Jesus Christ in its decision. Jesus
did not condemn the woman.
According to the law of Moses he
could have picked up stones and
been among those who executed
her. But he didn’t. He stood by her
and his actions helped to save her
life. But he did not approve of her
behavior. Shewastoldnottosin
again.
The UnitedChurch has stated
that all persons, regardless of their
sexual orientation, who profess
Jesus Christ and obedience to
Him, are welcome to be or become
full members of the Church and
that all Christian people are called
to a lifestyle patterned on obedi
ence to Jesus Christ. By so doing
the United Church is following
Jesus’ example by saying that gays
and lesbians are not outcasts or
condemned people. They are
welcome to be or become church
members and to be considered for
theorderofministry. However,
’ike Jesus’ response to the woman,
there are some conditions on
Genealogical
Society meets
Robert Tremain, director/
curator of the Lambton Heritage
Museum near Grand Bend will be
the guest speaker at the October 5
meeting of the Huron Genealogical
Society.
Mr. Tremain, who is working on
a history of Grand Bend, will
outline methods of collecting
material, particularly in photo
histories. The meeting will take
place at 7:30 p.m. at the board
room of the Huron Perth Assess
ment office, Goderich.
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