When big events occur in our time, I often wonder how Jesus would have responded. When I see church leaders on TV proclaiming the message to repent, I wonder what Jesus would say to them today. When athletes outspokenly thank God for their superstar performance, I wonder what Jesus might have to say to them. And when politicians are caught in a scandal and our leaders fall, I wonder if Jesus would be condemning of them or merciful.
Just about everyone in the United States is familiar with the scandal surrounding New York representative Anthony Weiner. Today he admitted having sent lewd photographs of himself to a young woman over twitter, one of many it turns out he has sent over the previous few years. In the weeks since the tweet was made (publicly instead of privately like he had intended) he lied to several media outlets, claiming his twitter account had been hacked and that he had not sent the tweet.
Behind tears today Weiner admitted that his actions were foolish and that he knew that what he did was dumb. He confessed to the entire United States today everything he had done with regard to the many photos he has sent out and the lies he has told. He reported that he had confessed his sins to his wife and then he stayed and answered questions for quite awhile from the reporters.
As I listened to his news conference today which was being played by a local talk radio show, the host of the radio show could be heard making judgmental and condemning comments about the New York representative. He made comments questioning the motives of Anthony Weiner's confession today. He ridiculed Weiner for his tears and voiced his scepticism about Weiner's story regarding how he confessed to his wife and how his wife, though disappointed, stated her love for her husband. The radio show host constantly berated Weiner throughout the news conference and did his best to kick him while he was down. And then I asked myself, "how would Jesus respond to Anthony Weiner today?"
Whenever we want to know how Jesus would respond today, all we need to do is find a similar situation from the Bible. Since Jesus had many different encounters with people in the Bible, there is an example for pretty much every kind of situation. We could point to Jesus' interaction with the woman caught in adultery (a similar situation to that of Weiner's) where he says, "let him who is without sin cast the first stone." We could turn to the story of Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at the well where, without condemnation, he offers living water which will take away all of her thirst. We can turn to the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector who Jesus has no problem dining with even though tax collectors are seen as some of the worst of the sinners. There are many illustrations in the Bible where Jesus shows the proper interaction with sinners such as Anthony Weiner.
I am not in any way defending Weiner's actions. I believe what he did was wrong. But who are we to judge? What can we add by stating what is already known to all including Weiner himself. If Jesus, the only sinless individual who ever walked the earth does not judge Weiner (read the story of the woman caught in adultery again in John 8:1-11) then who are we to judge. I can tell you with absolute certainty that based on my reading of the account of the woman caught in adultery and having listened to Weiner's confession today, Weiner seemed much more repentent than the adulterous woman. So why is she let off and Weiner condemned? If you ask any Christian if one sin is worse than another, I guarantee you that 90% of the time he or she will say "no." And yet he or she will have no hesitation standing up with that radio talk show host who can't be quiet about what a terrible person Anthony Weiner is. I cannot judge Weiner for his actions because even though I have not done what he has done, and maybe in our cultural milieu I have not done anything nearly as bad, I know that I am just as big a sinner as he is and to judge him would be to heap judgment on myself. Imagine how much more peaceful this world would be if no oned judged another person. Imagine how little hatred there would be.
This is why Jesus told us not to judge; this is why Jesus told us not to focus on other people's sins; this is why Jesus wiped away all condemnation, so that we could all draw closer to the unconditional love of our heavenly Father, and because none of us are free from sin. Yes, what Weiner did was wrong. But he made a mistake, just as we all have done and will do in our lifetimes. And he admits his mistake. Isn't that enough to warrant grace and mercy. I know that's what Jesus did.
Blessings,
-Brandon
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