Jamin Bradley

Let’s pretend that a mob of Christians storm into my church office one day and bring a person before me that they caught committing a sin. They want judgment, and it’s clear from their loudness that they want a serious verdict from me. Now let’s say that after getting my bearings on what’s happening, I looked back down at my computer and continued working while they ranted on.

At that moment, I have taken a strategic approach to de-escalate the situation. I have ignored the mob of oppressive accusers who were sure I would have to care about the situation. As they watch my response, some of them are probably starting to feel quite awkward about themselves. My lack of response has become the loudest response in the room.

After this has gone on for awhile, I close my computer and stand up and say, “If any of you have never sinned, I suppose you have the right to tell the rest of us what to do. Anyone?” Then I sit back down, open my computer, and get back to work.

This is effectively what Jesus did for the woman caught in adultery. So many are busy theorizing what Jesus wrote or drew in the sand with his finger. While we can’t help but be curious about this, I’d suggest that Jesus writing in the sand is the whole point. The shameful scarlet letter approach of the mob is not the way of Jesus. Shame does not heal. He comes to the woman’s defense and saves her from her oppressors by strategically dismantling the moment. He will help the woman heal, but he will do it in a different way.