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How Should Christians Respond To The Sin Of Adultery?

5/21/1997   

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)

Condemning others for the sin of adultery seems to have become fashionable in our society. In just the last few weeks Air Force General Joseph Ralston has been denied appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff because of an extramarital affair. Another Air Force officer, 1st Lieutenant Kelly Flinn, a B-52 pilot, was forced to accept a general discharge for an adulterous affair with another officer. The print and broadcast media had a field day at their expense.

We shouldn’t be surprised at what we are seeing. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last weekend that while public opinion polls consistently show that Americans disapprove of adultery, television and cinema, they continue glorify it. Indeed, as Herschel Hobbs, a prominent Southern Baptist, puts it, "Many seem to think this commandment reads, ‘Thou shall not admit adultery’. Much is advanced, or merely accepted, in the name of ‘political correctness’ that a few years ago was never spoken of or seen publicly…Some seem to revel in breaking what used to be commonly accepted social customs and demonstrate an ‘in your face’ attitude. They see this as a sign of a maturing society-that we have grown up, advanced beyond moral taboos-when in reality we have reverted to pagan standards that are thousands of years old."

It’s important to understand that adultery is viewed as a crime and a sin. The problem is the secular world no longer sees it as very much of a crime while the Bible continues to condemn it unequivocally. That’s why the Apostle Paul warns, "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Ephesians 5:5)

Christians must be careful not to wade too far out in the gulf that separates how God and the world view adultery. What Christ expects is for the Christian to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. Isn’t that what he meant when he said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"? (Matthew 5:16)

I was listening to Billy Graham on television the other day. The reporter asked Graham why he refused to join the ranks of fundamentalists and stand in opposition to sins like homosexuality, abortion and adultery, especially since the Bible is so resolute in its condemnation of them. Graham reminded the reporter that the Bible doesn’t distinguish between sin. His point was that the sin of adultery doesn’t separate us any farther from God than any other sin, big or small.

Jesus taught us to look at sin in the lives of others through sin in our own lives. That’s why he said to those who wanted to stone the adulterous woman, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7) Interestingly, he reminds us that condemnation is not a Christ-like quality. "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more," he told the woman. (John 8:10-11)

I think Jesus refused to condemn the act of adultery because he knew all too well that we would use it as a banner to justify our point of view. You see, adultery is just as forgivable as the judgmental attitudes through which we view it. The truth is God frowns at both of them.

Remember, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)

posted by Mike Ruffin on 5/21/1997