Remember the story of the woman taken in adultery found in the New Testament – John 8?
The story is told of the Savior going unto the Mount of Olives when the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery unto Him. As I narrate the story pay attention to how the Savior remained neutral in His response even though He was the only party in the right.
The scribes and Pharisees bring the adulteress before Jesus seeking to tempt Him (deceive and trick would be accurate as well.) Without saying a word (or probably making an expression) Jesus stoops down and commences writing upon the ground.
In most conversations laden with conflict at least one party is passionate about being right. Sometimes both parties carry a passionate belief each is correct. Notice in this story that all parties involved but the Savior were wrong. She had committed adultery, next to denying the Holy Ghost and murder it doesn’t get worse.
The Pharisees were wrong for they had deceiving hearts, were dishonest in their dealings, and were apostate. As the Savior writes on the ground, I perceive the silence as torturous to the wicked. They pressed Him for answers that they may trick Him.
He then utters His famous statement: “He that is without sin…”
It’s been argued by scholars for years over what he wrote. I don’t know either, but here is a thought:
What if He was writing the names that were found in her black book? Those names with whom she had committed her heinous sin? What if was the very men who stood in judgment of her and presented her before the Judge of all mankind? In fact, those men who were standing in judgment of the Son of God?
As each man saw his name written on the ground, guilt overcame him and each walked off one by one.
His parting words to the adulteress were neutral, go and sin no more. No condemnation, no guilt, no seeking agreement.
Being neutral does not remove passion or the feeling you are right. It removes the judging and the seeking of agreement that you are right. Teaching the gospel is more effective if the other person feels safe in her response. That she can disagree without being corrected, persuaded, and coerced that the gospel is true.
Until you give your friend or investigator permission to disagree and say no, he can never agree and say yes to the gospel’s saving truths. Doing missionary work comes from the point of view that every person you meet is a child of God who will eventually join the church and fulfill his foreordained blessings. Your job is to identify if he is ready today, or not.
It’s okay if he’s not ready today. Ask him again in a month, he may change his mind.
