Stone Throwing

Today we deal with a passage that I hear quite a bit about...usually out of context.  It is concerning the woman who had been caught in adultery- a capital offense in the law, although not often enforced in the days of Christ.   In John 8 people were ready to stone as the law allowed.  You quickly get the impression that this is the work of a kangaroo court of loosely drawn together cohorts.  When they try to corner Christ (never successful, He even defeated death itself), the following happened: And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." ⁸And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. ⁹But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. ¹⁰Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" ¹¹She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."  - John 8:7-11 (www.lifejournal.cc) .
Now this passage is often brought up when one is seen to have judged another.  If you say that what someone else does is wrong, someone else very likely will stand up and say "ye who are sinless, cast the first stone."  Point well taken, none of us are perfect.  However, does that mean that none of us can judge between right and wrong?  By no means.  We are still to call a spade a spade.  Sexual sin is still wrong, even though the standards of society have slid to the red light district, and it always will be.  Any and all sin is still sin.  God's standard has not changed even though America's has.  We must stand on God's standard and stand for what is right.  Does that mean we condemn, black ball, write off, or beat up everyone that does wrong?  We better not, because we have done wrong as well.  No, instead we correct folks with grace and mercy. 
When God puts someone in your path that is caught in a mess, see it as an opportunity to honor God and restore some brokenness.  It should not be a chance to get something on someone or fill up the social network boards with rumors concerning them.  Honor God and love your neighbor every chance you get...even today!