WALDROP: Grace and judgment in their proper balance

The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC, is a pastoral counselor and is chaplain of Western State Hospital. Contact him at 540-332-8004 or email him at .
Published: July 31, 2008

A major battle was fought that day between judgmentalism on one side and grace on the other. The sad thing about this confrontation was that the church was on the wrong side; and right there during church, too. The entire event was recorded and a verbatim transcript is available, although it has been snipped out or downplayed in some of the official records. Fortunately, we have an uncensored version before us.
Beware, though. This material is not for children or squeamish adults. It is the stuff of soap operas and “Desperate Housewives.” The unedited document can be read in its entirety in what we now call the Gospel of John, chapter 7, verse 53 through chapter 8, verses 1-11. In summary, here is what happened.
Two scenes are occurring at the same time in different places and they will soon collide at the temple where Jesus has arrived to lead a seminar. He has assumed the traditional teaching position: sitting down before his students; some seated, some standing because of the large crowd. These are basic level students. The advanced ones are elsewhere, loading the trap they have been setting for Jesus.
We do not know the woman’s name or much about her life. The religious community has summed her up in this one act, prearranging it to humiliate her, if not kill her, and to discredit Jesus. Is she at home now? Maybe, or she could be at the man’s house who set her up, or even in some secluded spot nearby where they could drag her to the temple after swooping in on her and the one who helped betray her. We might speculate about him later.
In they rush now to this private rendezvous, barely giving her time to dress before marching her, and only her, off to church. What is she thinking and feeling along the way? Do they talk to her ... shout at her ... make her talk about what she has been doing? They have to hurry, though; they can’t let Jesus finish his seminar and leave for the day. There are too many spiritual, social and legal issues to be settled.
Here they come now, right between Jesus and his startled students. With no apologies for their interruption and no introductions, they stand her up in front of the class and begin the trial. “Look what we found, Lord; we caught her in the very act of adultery.” With well rehearsed voice intonations, shocked facial expressions and dramatic pauses, they pose the prearranged question: “Moses said to stone her ... What do you say ... Teacher?
So now they have him. If Jesus discourages stoning her, he violates the Law of Moses; if he supports stoning her as the Law required, he shows no mercy and sinners will rarely come to him for anything. What will he do?
We face this issue today, don’t we: judgment or grace; the Law or the Gospel? Is it really an “either-or;” or is there some combination of two, maybe even another option? Let’s examine the possibilities in this incident and then look at how Jesus’ solution may be a model for our own similar issues today.
First, there is what is called in theological circles: “cheap grace.” We know it popularly as an absolutely “non-judgmental” and “unconditional” approach where no one is judged and no conditions set for anything at all ... ever.
Secondly, there is “legalism.” It pursues all offenses with equal vigor, vengeance and enjoyment, never offering forgiveness, understanding or second chances.
Then, there was Jesus’ approach.
(Conclusion next week)