Figuratively speaking, is not the character assassination, verbal assault and abuse a modern-day of stoning a decent human being in the civilized society? As we know for the last few weeks all the news and social media in the United States of America (USA) is filled with constant reporting of the USA Supreme Court nominee’s allegation stories. In fact, almost 27 years ago, during the month of September (1991), similar news story kept all of us tuned to either radio or television (TV) for hearing of the USA Supreme Court nominee’s accusations. I’m sure like me you also remember both hearings vividly. How can we forget these two hearing incidents in our lifetime?
Some reason these two Supreme Court nominees’ hearings have become one of the highlights in the American history. How and why did it happen? Is American present culture evoking our school days memories with the vengeance to destroy an innocent, decent and civilized human being’s adult family life? Or, is there any long-term hidden agenda of some people, who don’t like a person who believes in the God of the Bible, upon which he or she takes the public oath for an elected position? Or, is the hidden agenda related to life or death issue? If so, who prefers death rather than life, unless the natural death is an unavoidable one?
If the present culture in America is dictated by some external evil forces with wrong motives to destroy the law-abiding and God fearing citizen, then the person who has a wrong motive should first think whether or not that he or she is 100% perfect without any fault, mistake, an allegation or accusation from the cradle to the grave?
What will happen, if any elected public leader, such as President, Senator, Congressman, Congresswoman, or Governor’s teenage years or School days accusation or minor allegations shows up today, and it turns out to be true, can he or she still hold a public position? If any elected leader’s hands are not clean, does he or she has any right to judge others? How are an each elected leader’s Middle and High School, and University, including grown-up day’s life style, and personal character reveals on a daily basis? Is it possible that his or her historical records are clean and 100% perfect so that we can learn from it? Or, can he or she be a role model for the young generation?
Similarly, if the corporations and religious institutions’ senior leaders’ teenage years history becomes an accusation at later stages in life, then is she or he be treated as a bad person, and requiring further investigations that can result in a shameful situation for the entire family, then what will happen? Is there anyone on this planet without wrongdoing?
It is very shocking and disturbing to most of us to witness the present America cultural changes. Knowingly or unknowing, people are judging others quickly. I think, due to jealous nature, some people are ready to throw stones at an innocent person without realizing first his or her mistakes in life. How can someone blame or criticize another person, when his or her life is filled with weakness, bad habits, lies, and wrongful mistakes.
Most of us are very much shocked and disturbed at the recent Supreme Court nominee’s hearings, and especially, after carefully watching every Senator’s questions and statements, it seems various thoughts crossed our minds.
In my case, the main thought stuck in my mind is that “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone (John 8:7 NKJV).” Who among the US Senators is without any of his or her teenage year’s weakness and wrongful mistakes? Or, is any of an elected leader 100% perfect? What will happen to an elected senior leader, if someone brings either Middle or High School year’s accusation or allegation at this stage of his or her carrier life, after going through a number of constant background checks, and in some cases full US security clearness for the selected position?
I think unless our present culture realizes that we’re sinners by birth and bound to do mistakes in our life, and need to avoid judging other first. Our sinful nature gets into all kinds of temptations in life due to outside influences. Therefore, Jesus Christ, Son of God, tells the Pharisees and scribes, who were powerful senior religious leaders tried to accuse Him at His time on this Earth stating that “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7 KJV).” What an eloquent statement!
As we know that this incident in the New Testament, after hearing Jesus Christ’s powerful statement the senior leaders began to go away one at a time. When we think of this scene, it really teaches us one of the deep moral lessons. That is, His writings on the ground “convicted the conscience (Jn. 8:8 NKJV)” of those powerful leaders. It is interesting also to note the sequence of people leaving the scene. Because His word states that “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8: 9-11 NKJV).” Wow!
On September 27, 2018, as I was on the road driving a long distance trying to listen to the radio news, music, and talks, to my surprise most of the discussion on the air was about the USA Supreme Court nominees’ accusations and allegations. Even I heard in the news that so many people around the world it seems were listening and watching the hearings. Some reason, this hearings bothered me so much and reminded me His word constantly as I drove, that is, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone (Jn. 8:7 KJV).”
Because no one is perfect on this earth; therefore, Jesus Christ reminded us of our sinful nature. In fact, in our weakness, we try to judge others quickly. Son of God knows our weakness; therefore, He said “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye (Mat. 7:1-3 NIV)?”
I think as the powerful leaders in Jesus Christ time “convicted by their conscience,” so also our elected leaders must be convicted by their conscience at His word, since they take an oath on the Holy Bible, so that he or she can make a wise decision. Likewise, we need to be convicted by our conscience through His word, so that we can avoid throwing stones at each other, but to gather and form a peaceful community of God’s people.
If you have any comments, suggestions or thoughts, please share it. Appreciated!