Picking Up Stones

     In John the eighth chapter we have the famous scene of the infamous woman on the ground and the righteous men standing around her. Framed in my mind, the point of view is the woman's, with JC's feet showing, and in the background, men standing holding rocks. It seems that "taking up stones in order to throw them" at someone was a very popular thing with "the Jews". From John 8 to John 11 this phrase or something like is used over a half a dozen times. You had to be righteous to live "in the city" in those days. After all, Jerusalem is a very rocky place. Stoning was a social event. It was viewed by many, like public floggings, stockades, dunkings, Youtube videos, or Facebook.
      It seemed  easy to bend down and grab a stone in those days.  They were right there at their feet. They could probably pick up two or three at a time, and give one to their friend who was with them.  "Be sure to pick a nice one. Here, this one will leave a bruise, after all we want this person to remember this, that is if he/she lives." They might have said. These were church people, remember, not the gentiles or Romans. They attended the local services, had the rabbi over for dinner and taught their kids the scriptures.
       But wrong is wrong. Mistakes were to be astoned for! I mean atoned for. These people knew the stonee,  and that probably was the rub. After all, stoning is for our neighbors. "Hold you friends close and your enemies closer", but not too close or you can't get a good throw. You need a little room to make a good throw. Just the right distance will do, there are standards of decency. We don't want to appear to be critical or blood thirsty.
      Yeah, so I have one question.  Am I a stoner? Do I live in a stone throwing society? Well I know, thank God, I don't live in Afghanistan! But when I am listening to a sermon or reading an article, or talking with friends, do I bend down and pick up, well not big stones, but ones big enough to be felt? What is my conversation like? Or better what is going on in my head? If murder starts in the heart with hatred, where does throwing a critical remark start?  A smart remark?
         In Acts the 7th chapter,  we have another example of a person being stoned. This time we know his name. It was Stephen. Stephen died that day after delivering God's word to the stoners. His last words before giving up the Ghost was "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60). I am sure he entered heaven through gates of splendor. I wonder if those standing by were as forgiving as Stephen. Acts 7:58 tells us that Saul was holding the coats. It could be that Stephen's grace opened the door for Saul to become Paul. What the world would have missed if Stephen would have thrown stones back and threaten and cursed his attackers.
          I wonder what response Jean and Scott Adam would want us to have? They were delivering Bibles when overtaken by Somali pirates.  The pirates boarded their boat and killed them and two others. Tragic. And I am sure their families and friends are devastated.

Somali Pirate

          This brings to mind the story of the missionaries in Ecuador who where murdered by the natives (Through Gates of Splendor). The missionaries had guns on board their plane but refused to use them. One of their wives eventually gained acceptance with the murdering tribe and lived with them. Her forgiveness and love converted the tribe members to Christ, just like the murderer Paul. Forgiveness is powerful. I wonder if we should have sent in the marines instead?
          As we pray for this situation and the families involved let us remember our crowd of witnesses and how they have refused to give up the vision of a better Kingdom (Hebrews 11). And what those books said that  Scott and Jean were giving out. Let us honor their work. We believe that we belong to a kingdom where love is returned for hate and forgiveness for offense. Lest we find ourselves picking up stones with the "righteous" ones.