“GRACE”

I’ve recently found myself in a position where I’m dealing with a group of women that my daughters would classify as “Karens”. (No offense intended to anyone named Karen). These are women who are apparently guilt-free, glowing embodiments of perfection. I’m waiting for some of them to show me that they can walk on water. And sadly, they are the embodiment of what the world currently thinks of when they hear the word “Christian”.

I’ve been blessed to walk with a sister who made some poor choices and is ready to turn around and follow Christ more closely. She posted some things on social media that she’s not proud of and then she removed them…but not before they were discovered by our local “Women of Perfection”.

Sadly, instead of coming alongside her and offering to guide her through this, they immediately demanded a pound of flesh for her sins. She was ostracized, belittled and gossiped about so much so that I was afraid she would walk away from Christ altogether. But thankfully, the Holy Spirit has held on to her. I’m praying that He protects her from the things that are being said behind her back.

When Jesus came upon the woman caught in adultery, she had been dragged out into the street to be stoned to death by Scripture’s male version of “Karens”…Pharisees. They were men who believed they were above everyone else because they believed they were so good at obeying God’s law. Thankfully, Jesus stepped up (and then stooped down) and wrote something in the sand. (I like to think He wrote something like, “If she was caught in adultery, where’s the dude she was with?”) Then He stood up and said “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7) All these so-called righteous men dropped their stones and walked away.

My friends and I are trying to speak words of love and life over our sister who made a foolish choice, because we’ve all been there and done that. My prayer for all of us today is that we will remember the words of Christ the next time we decide to pick up a stone and throw it at someone who needs the same grace that we’ve already received.