It's interesting, to read in the Gospels, how many times Jesus was confronted by Pharisees who tried to trick him with black and white scenarios. On one occasion they said, "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" (Matthew 22:17) and on another occasion they brought to Jesus a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery and said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:4- 5). In both cases, religious leaders were using black and white scenarios as a way of trapping Jesus into saying something that could be used against him.
In both cases, Jesus saw the gray. In regards to taxes, he said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. In regards to the woman caught in the act of adultery, he said to the men, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be a first to throw a stone at her." Well, they all walked away because none of them were without sin. However, Jesus was without sin. Jesus could have stoned her, but instead he said, "Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." Instead of stoning her, Jesus chose to forgive her and challenged her to leave her sin filled ways. Yes, even when some things are clearly right & wrong, Jesus left a door of gray open to move from wrong to right.
Today you will encounter many people who live in many different lifestyles. Some are living well while others are not, but what kind of doors are you opening by the way you interact with others? Our words have the power to close doors, or open doors. Jesus always used his words to open doors. We would be wise to imitate his teaching and to follow in his way.
Dennis
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