John  8_ 1-11      Are Christians Mean?

Rev. David Holwick  ZF               "Questions People Ask" topical series

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey                            

October 20, 2002

John 8:1-11


ARE CHRISTIANS MEAN?



  I. Good ol' hellfire and brimstone.

      A. Jerry Falwell's controversial comments.

          1) (Most of his are in this category, at least ones that get

                publicity)

          2) Falwell has company.  Letter to Editor of Star Ledger by

                Aref Assaf of Denville:


             "The Rev. Jerry Falwell said, 'I think Mohammed was a

                terrorist.

              I read enough, by both Muslims and non-Muslims, (to decide)

                 that he was a violent man, a man of war.'


             "Another Southern Baptist leader called the Prophet a

                'demon-possessed pedophile.'

              The Rev. Pat Robertson described the Prophet as 'an

                 absolute wild-eyed fanatic.

              He was a robber and a brigand.

              To think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent.'


             "The Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy, has repeatedly

                 called Islam 'a very evil and wicked religion.'"

                                                              10/18/2002


      B. Philip Yancey and Gay March in Washington.


         A few years back Philip Yancey happened to be in Washington,

            D.C., when 300,000 gay-rights activists were having a march.

         He was standing on the sidelines directly in front of the

            White House when a startling confrontation took place.

         About 40 mounted policemen had formed a protective circle

            around a small group of outspoken Christian protesters.

         Thanks to huge, orange posters announcing hellfire, the tiny

            knot of Christians was attracting most of the press

               photographers.


         The believers began shouting, "Shame-on-you-for-what-you-do."

            Then they switched to, "AIDS, AIDS, it's comin' your way."

         Yancey, along with everyone else in the crowd, had seen the

            group of marchers at the head of the column:

         a sad procession of hundreds of people with AIDS - some in

            wheelchairs, some covered with purple sores or gaunt faces.

         Philip Yancey couldn't imagine how anyone could wish that fate

            on another human being.


         How did the marchers respond to the Christians?

            Some taunted or mocked them.

         But one group came to the spot, stopped to face them, and sang,

            "Jesus loves you, this we know, for the Bible tells us so."


         The irony was unsettling.

            On the one side were "righteous" Christians.

         On the other were "sinners," many of whom openly admitted

            homosexuality.

         Yet one side spewed out hate and the other sang of Jesus' love.

                                                                    #3110

      C. We are good at offending people.

          1) Christians are noted for judgmental attitudes.

              a) Outside a small town in New Mexico is a sign that reads:

                 "Welcome to Portales, New Mexico, home of 12,493

                     friendly folks and 8 or 10 grouches."

                                                                   #17745

              b) Does that describe us?

          2) Evangelicals have a reputation for putting a negative slant

                on everything.

          3) Is it true?  Are we justified in being that way?


II. Jesus and the loser.                                     John 8:1-11

      A. She was a woman, she was an adulterer, and she was caught.

          1) The crowd wanted blood.

          2) Similar to Afghanistan stadium executions of women.

          3) Mob mentality and righteousness all rolled into one.


      B. Jesus turns the tables.

          1) He cunningly labels THEM the sinners.                    8:7

              a) Not directly, but by implication: sinless ones get

                    to participate first.

              b) They judged themselves and slinked away.

          2) The obvious sinner he sent off with forgiveness.


      C. Even the world recognizes this as a defining event.

          1) Jesus loves rather than judges.

          2) Why can't we?


III. The sin of negativism.

      A. Negativism turns people away from Jesus.

          1) Negativity seems harsh and un-Christ-like.

          2) Jesus stands for radical acceptance and love.

          3) He saw people's potential rather than their past.


      B. Many believe our world needs a positive approach.

          1) Example of a preacher who turns every sermon into positive

                angle.  He feels it is wrong to preach the negatives.

          2) Ministries of Norman Vincent Peale and Robert Schuller.

              a) Positive-thinking mantra.

              b) They must be tapping a vein because they have huge

                    followings.


IV. But negativity can be reality.

      A. We live in a sin-soaked world.

          1) We cannot ignore it just to be positive.

          2) Principle of the harvest.                      Galatians 6:7

              a) People reap what they sow.


      B. Confronting sin is never pretty.

          1) Elijah.                                        1 Kings 18:21

              a) Confrontation with prophets of Baal, winner take all.

              b) Stark choice presented to people.  No compromise.


          2) Ezekiel.                         Ezek 3:17-18; Acts 20:26-27

              a) Don't warn people, their blood is on your hands.

              b) Paul in Acts - no blood can be charged to me.


          3) John the Baptist.

              a) Everyone feared him and his message of wrath.

              b) He was popular because they thought he was right.

              c) He was executed because he confronted Herod about

                    his illicit relationship with his sister-in-law,

                       whom he made his wife.                 Matt 14:3-5


          4) Jesus himself could be harsh.

              a) If not with adulterers, at least with hypocrites.

              b) He said the locals would be worse off than Sodom and

                    Gomorrah on the Judgment Day.           Matthew 10:15

              c) And he leaves the woman with the warning, "Go and sin

                    no more."  (continuous sin is implied)


      C. Relativism of our day.

          1) Less than a year ago a guest editorial in Newsweek magazine

                was written by a student at Yale University.

             She said that on September 11 her entire college campus

                huddled around television sets, their eyes riveted in

                   horror to images of the collapsing Twin Towers.


             But by September 12, as their shock began to fade, so did

                their sense of being wronged.

             Students began pointing to the differences between our life

                circumstances and those of the terrorists, suggesting

                   that these differences had caused the previous day's

                      events.

             It was apparent to her that her generation is uncomfortable

                assessing whether a moral wrong has taken place.

             In her opinion we should recognize that some actions are

                objectively bad, despite differences in cultural

                   standards and values.

             Rape is an example.  So is a terrorist attack.


             She concluded by saying, "Others may disagree.

             It is less important to me where people choose to draw the

                line than it is that they are willing to draw it at all."


             Her editorial got some attention.

                One conservative gave her two cheers.  (out of three)

             He commended her on realizing the murder of thousands of

                people is in fact bad.

             But her bold moral judgment is not quite so bold as all

                that.


             Look at her conclusion again: "To me," it begins.  To me.

             Hijacking planes and killing thousands is not objectively

                bad after all.

             It is objectively bad only in her OPINION.

             Indeed, she rushes to reassure on this point: "Others may

                disagree."  Others may disagree.

             And she adds: "It is less important to me where people

                choose to draw the line than it is that they are willing

                   to draw it at all."

                                                                    #6532


             Yes, we need to draw lines.

                But it matters where we draw them, too.

             Christians should know how we can decide that.


          2) Judgmentalism is bad, but relativism is far worse.

              a) We believe in absolute standards.

              b) If we ignore them, we allow people to hurt themselves

                    more.


  V. Check your motives when judging.

      A. Are we out to get attention?

          1) Some who stress the positive really want to be popular.

          2) Of course, being negative can be attention-getting as well!


      B. Questions to ask ourselves:

          1) Are we willing to apply same standards to ourselves?

          2) What outcome are we looking for?

              a) To put them down?

              b) To open their eyes to God's standards, and love?


      C. Are we offering them same hope Jesus offers us?


VI. The place for affirmation.

      A. People need hope and love.

          1) Many already realize the effects of their sins.

              a) Talking with Mary V. at reunion, how she worked out

                   divorce and rejection of her kids by first husband.

          2) Let them know of God's forgiveness.


      B. Let God speak for himself.


       "Pastor, is it OK to sell a Bible to a prostitute?"


       Laura is a member of a small church in a small town in central

          Brazil.

       She has sold Avon products for years in the town to supplement

          the family income.

       One of her weekly routes takes her through the red light

          district, and with those business contacts she often shares her

             faith in Jesus Christ.


       One day after asking her pastor if it is Ok to sell Bibles to

          prostitutes she took a few Bibles with her on her Avon trips to

          the red light district.

       God opened a door for her to present Bibles and Christian books

          in a house of prostitutes.

       Oddly enough, the house was located directly across the road from

          a large evangelical church.

       Ten of these women gathered around a table one afternoon as Laura

          shared with them the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

       A few Bibles and some books containing testimonies of transformed

          lives were sold that afternoon.


       Several months later there were terrible rains and floods in that

          part of Brazil, causing several deaths.

       With the floods came mudslides in communities that had been

          inundated by the rising rivers.

       Two prostitutes who had attended the book demonstration earlier

          that year talked about the danger and decided to read the Bible

             they had purchased.

       Perhaps thinking the book to be like an Agatha Christie mystery

          novel, they started with Revelation in order to find the

             conclusion of the story.

       What they read terrified them.


       They read with dismay Revelation 21:7-8: "He who overcomes will

          inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

       But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, and

          the sexually immoral, the idolaters and all liars -- their

             place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

       This is the second death."


       The gal who owned the Bible became alarmed and exclaimed, "We're

          lost!  We're lost!"

       Her housemate replied, "No, you're lost.  I'm not lost because I

           do penance every day."

       Still alarmed and concerned, they continued to read.


       A few days later Laura visited her Avon customers.

       These two women literally pulled her off the street and shoved

          the Bible into her hands.

       "Read this part right there!  Tell us what it means!" they

          ordered.

       Laura read the verses and responded, "It means that when you

          practice and live in one of these sins, you will not be

             permitted to enter heaven."

       Again, the owner of the Bible cried, "We're lost!  We're lost!

          I told you we were lost!"

       Her friend again assured her, "No, you're lost.

       I'm not lost because I repent every day."


       "Repentance," Laura explained, "is when you confess your wrong

          and completely turn around.

       You do not repent.

          Repenting is turning from your sin.

          You only feel guilty for your sins."

       Again, the prostitute shouted even louder, "We are lost!  We're

          lost!"

       After sharing the plan of salvation and trying to pray with them,

          Laura returned home planning to visit again.


       One week passed by and she made her way down the muddy and rutted

          dirt streets of that little suburb.

       The two prostitutes were not in their "business" but at the home

          of one of them.

       On arriving at the house, Laura was handed a note by the one who

          had been so assured of her false repentance.

       It read:


           Laura,


           Enclosed is the money I owe.

              Thank you so much for help.

           After your visit last week, I returned to my hometown

              and am living with my parents.

           On Sunday I attended an evangelical church and gave my

              heart to the Lord Jesus.

           If ever I visit your city

              again, it will only be to attend your church.

           Jesus has made me a different person.


           Maria Isabel


       We can never estimate the power of God's Spirit working through

          His Word to convict, regenerate and transform lives in Jesus

             Christ.

                                                                   #22359

       Sin is a negative topic.

       But we can deal with it in a positive, loving way.

          The same way Jesus deals with us.



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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:


# 3110  "We Have No Right To Scorn," by Philip Yancey, Christianity Today

           magazine, January 15, 1988, page 72.


# 6532  "My Turn: The Question That We Should Be Asking," by Alison

           Hornstein, Newsweek magazine, December 17, 2001.  Conservative

           commentator is Michael Kelly, "A non-judgemental Yale?",

           Washington Post Writers Group, December 19, 2001. 

           Illustration is given the title, "Is Terrorism Wrong?  Really

           Wrong?"


#17745  "The Negative Versus The Positive," by Bill Bouknight, from Brett

           Blair's Illustrations by Email, www.sermonillustrations.com,

           August 4, 2002.


#22359  "Is It Ok To Sell A Bible To A Prostitute?," from sermon by Rev.

           Will Pounds entitled "Neither Do I Condemn You," #6554 in

           Holwick sermon database.  Original true story is called "A

           Miracle in Ipatinga," by Richard Jacobsen, American Bible

           Society Record, (April 1988, Vol. 134, No. 4.), pp. 12-14.


These and 20,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,

absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html

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