How Jesus dealt with sinners

What should we do if someone has violated a law of God? Condemn them? Punish them? Just ignore it?

As a common citizen, if someone commits a crime we must never take the law into our own hands. However, neither should we condone the crime. We certainly should not encourage that behavior.

Jesus unequivocally set the example. When an adulterous woman was brought before him (John 8:3-11), what did he do? He respected her.

He did not condemn, ridicule or punish her. However, neither did he condone her sinful behavior or encourage her to continue in her sin. He unambiguously counseled her to commit that sin no more.

If we find that a loved one has succumbed to some sin (homosexuality, drugs, pornography, lying, stealing or anything else that God condemns) we should try to follow the example of Jesus.

Those caught in the snare of any sinful behavior must not be condemned or ridiculed. They should be accepted, loved and respected just like any other person.

However, we should also patiently encourage them to repent and end their sinful behavior. We must never let someone think that sinful behavior is somehow OK with God.

MIKE GAIN

Modesto