Freedom from Shame
The church doesn’t handle sex well. When it’s put in its rightful place, sex is an incredible blessing, but the majority of churches either don’t talk about it or talk about it in unhelpful ways.
Purity culture is a classic example. It’s now responsible for a generation who struggle to develop healthy adult sexual relations because of its overemphasis on sex and deemphasis on grace.
So, how does Jesus respond to women who are caught in sexual sin?
Check out John 8:1-11.
A woman caught in adultery is used as a pawn by religious leaders to trap Jesus. They dragged her out in front of a crowd, possibly naked and were prepared to stone her to death, but Jesus says to the crowd ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ One by one the crowd disappeared and Jesus says to her that if they don’t condemn you, neither do I. Go and sin no more.
I’ve got 3 questions of this story:
1. What does Jesus say?
To paraphrase verse 7, he says ‘only the one who doesn’t sin can judge.’ Meaning only the Holy God (Jesus himself) has the right to judge.
2. What does Jesus not say?
‘You idiot! How stupid could you be?’ We might be tempted to say that, but nope! He doesn’t even talk about her sexual encounter at all!
3. What does Jesus do for her?
He gives her total freedom. He gives her life. Literally and spiritually. He saved her from being stoned to death. He gave her a hope and a future in Him.
She carried shame and perhaps you do too, but you don’t need to anymore! God wants to give you hope, and to heal you. Like this nameless woman, God finds us, reaches into our situation, and wants to refresh and restore us.
So, I encourage you to take whatever it is you you’re carrying and give it to God. Speak to him about it. Let Him free and heal you from any shame you might be feeling.
And remember that we live within community. God gives us Himself, but He also gives us His wisdom and perspective through others. When you verbally share your story with a trusted person it helps to break the shame cycle. As Ann Voskamp says, ‘Shame dies when stories are told in trusted places.’
Through the lens of the woman caught in adultery, He tells us that only He is able to judge us. AND, by His GREAT mercy, He chooses to set us free.
So, let’s live as freed women (or men), who choose to honour God with our sexuality, thoughts, and lives.