Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone (John 8:7)

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catholic03

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Hello!

Our Blessed Lord told us that “Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone”.

Let us think about that. How do you avoid judging people? What do you do when a Catholic does something contrary to Church teaching. How can we bear witness to the Gospel by following Our Lord’s command not to judge.

After all, the Holy Father said “Look in the mirror before judging others”.

How can we improve our own behaviour?

We must think about this to strive for Christian holiness.

God Bless.
 
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One could write and write… One thing that’s short comes to my mind: St. Augustine - “Love the sinner, hate the sin.”

Another, we evangelize by the testimony of life - the holier it is, the greater the testimony, and also it speaks itself to the sinners (according to the Bible, that’s why hardened sinners hate “the just” - it’s from the OT), but also it shows the way - since we become like the light, that is not supposed to be hidden, Jesus said.

We are (the babptized) connected vessels - one mystical body of Christ - what happens to one, happens to the rest - the same way, whosover improves in striving to holiness, influences the rest of the mystical body of Christ.
 
Thats great questions my dear freind i am glad to hear it and i want to say even me struggled with it for some time unitil i readed the bible but i can tell you that i learned for example

Its best to use i statement when we talk to people like how do we feel I feel how do we feel what happened? what caused the issue so on that s why in psyhology i statement is better than you because its non judgmental and more understanded

this way it will help us grow not just as person but in faith and as well instead judging we bless if bad words are used all that bible teach us to
 
Like St. Francis of Assisi said, peach the Gospel and every once in a while say a few words. While we can not judge another’s salvation we can and should judge their actions, but in an appropriate manner. We can not condemn another but we most certainly can guide others into repentance, that is our duty and obligation as Christians, it is why Christ sent the Apostles out into the world.

It seems the word “judge” gets folks who are doing wrong all up in a tizzy. It is one of their defences to somehow justify their sins. And it’s true, we are indeed hypocrites and should look in the mirror at ourselves, but the difference is that when we don’t like what we see, we understand we have sinned against God and we can do something about it, confess and become clean once again.

So judge wisely, to save souls and lead others to Christ, but judge not to condemn another. Don’t throw the stone when judging, instead do as Christ, offer mercy and forgiveness. That’s the whole key to judging… offer the correct way out of the sin!
 
Whould it be ok to say This is not good my dear freind or that s bad thing when we mention to abortion issues or homosexuality issues etc praticing on street stuff are we then not judging?
 
But the same person also said, “You know a tree by its fruits.”

If I see a tree with wormy, rotten fruit, it’s silly to pretend that it’s juicy and perfect. So if we see evil around us, it’s silly to pretend that it’s just another kind of good, but different from the good I prefer.

We’re all creatures, so in that sense, we’re equal to each other. I don’t have the ability to read hearts, so as far as “judgment” goes in a “passing judgment” sense, I don’t do that.

But at the same time, even though our souls are of equal value, our circumstances are not equal. God didn’t invent a democracy. I’m in charge of my children; I respect my parents and my spouse according to the appropriate circumstances; I live in Caesar’s world and give to Caesar what is Caesar and give to God what is God’s.

So if someone around me has destructive or evil behavior, I’ll call it out when I see it, because we also have the obligation of fraternal correction. Whether or not someone actually follows our advice or positive peer pressure is a separate issue, but we all have the duty to point out error when we see it. Because if we allow errors to exist around us and do nothing about it, God will hold us culpable, to one degree or another, for our inaction, just as he holds the sinner culpable for their bad action.
 
DeSales111 said:
Like St. Francis of Assisi said, peach the Gospel and every once in a while say a few words
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I was once shocked to hear Scott Hahn (and he wasn’t the only one) say that it is attributed to Saint Francis, but that there’s no proof he said that. I am actually curious a bit who did then?
 
Rule 1221 of the Franciscans sez–
No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister . . . All the Friars . . . should preach by their deeds.
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So, it’s much snappier to say, “Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.”

But the point is, don’t just spout empty words. You need to mirror your words with your actions. But at the same time, you don’t merely move through life showing a silent example; you use words in conjunction with action to create something more powerful than mere words or mere example.

As Paul sez–
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
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catholic03 said:
Hello!

Our Blessed Lord told us that “Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone”.

Let us think about that. How do you avoid judging people? What do you do when a Catholic does something contrary to Church teaching. How can we bear witness to the Gospel by following Our Lord’s command not to judge.

After all, the Holy Father said “Look in the mirror before judging others”.

How can we improve our own behaviour?

We must think about this to strive for Christian holiness.

God Bless.
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Casting the stone is punishing not judging.
John 7:24
4 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.
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catholic03 said:
Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone
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Also be aware that some people will cherry pick this phrase as a stick to beat the people who don’t support their particular sin into silence.
 
This is very nice, I was feeling down the other day because I don’t have a lot of time to pray or read scripture and then I heard in my heart “then let your life be a prayer”. More patience with my husband, more humility (especially), practice the Little Way etc…
 
Here’s a fine quotation I copied for myself once:
„Upon a time, the Count Orapsane, a devout nobleman, came to visit him, and falling into discourse, how much Almighty God was moved with the sins of the world, out of his zeal breaketh into these speeches, O Father ! what do you think ? what will become of this wicked world? do you think the divine justice can contain itself any longer from revenge? behold, how virtue is oppressed, and sin triumpheth ? how wilfully do we hoard up anger against the day of anger ? to which the man of God modestly answered and said, noble Sir, do not afflict yourself, a remedy will easily be found to cure this disease ; the point of the difficulty consisteth only in you and me, for the general perdition of mankind floweth from this fountain, that all and every one dissembling or cloaking their own sins, accuse the whole, when the whole cannot be said to sin at all, but particular persons in the whole. Wherefore, men cry out against the wickedness of the world, that all are naught, and none that do good, when if they would but look into their own particular, they should find matter enough of sorrow, and to move themselves to do penance for their own faults ; but now because they blame the whole, they neglect their own particulars, and justify themselves with a sottish presumption. Therefore, noble Sir, let your Lordship, and I, mend one a piece, and then a great part of the world will be amended ; we shall appease the angry judge, and repair a great part of the ruin of mankind by our good example .”

From A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer - Saint Peter of Alcantarra
 
I usually focus on my own sins and shortcomings and leave others to deal with theirs, unless they specifically ask for my opinion.
If I am concerned for someone, I pray for them and put them in God’s hands.
 
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I think that the PROBLEM w. a judgmental attitude
stems from the ONE JUDGING, is he doing it b/c
he himself is guilty of grave sin?(cf Romans 2:1)
or is he rebuking in LOVE?(cf Proverbs 27:5)
“A word RIGHTLY SPOKEN is like apples of gold
in settings of silver”( Prov. 25:11)
 
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Tis_Bearself said:
I usually focus on my own sins and shortcomings and leave others to deal with theirs, unless they specifically ask for my opinion.
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When I’m dealing with adults I can do this.
It gets a lot more tangled when dealing with kiddos, like for instance if my kiddos friends are going off the rails and supporting things I simply can’t give the go-ahead to.
DH and I have never refused to let our kids’ friends over to the house, even when some of their attitudes are downright alarming. But there are some kids we like better than others.
 
If you’re parents, then it’s your job to monitor your children’s moral behavior and teach them. That’s perfectly fine and I’d expect you to instruct your child or if necessary, tell him you don’t want him hanging around with so-and-so because they’re a bad influence.

That’s totally different from “let he who is without sin cast the first stone” because you are actually responsible for your kids.

Most instances of people calling out others for their sins involve calling out others for whom we have no personal responsibility.
 
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That’s a good point, in the same vein, do we correct other people’s kids like the old days. I’ve heard so many good old days stories where neighborhood women yelled at somebody else’s child or teen when they were doing something wrong and the mom was fine with it, I think maybe it was just the times back then?. Now if you try to steer, maybe sternly, someone else’s child doing wrong it doesn’t seem like it would be so welcome in this era. I’ve seen older people be stern with young teens on the street they didn’t know, if they were doing something dangerous, and I admire them.l for looking out for the teens and others.
 
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It’s one of the most powerful moments written within the gospel.

Remember Jesus can only speak of truth and purity. This is important in all Gospel readings.

No human can live a life without judging if they knowledge difference between right and wrong.

The Lord was only showing us , our own pride.
 
For me the difference between judging and being judgmental hinges on the “mental” part. Where are my mind and heart when I’m making a judgment. I especially struggle with this at work because there can be a lot of conflict and gossip. When I have the upper hand in a situation and need to get something done, I often slip into a haughty, accusing mindset, like the other party finally “got theirs.” Afterwards my conscience accuses me and I realize I could have resolved the situation even better with a little more patience and less aggression. The recurring theme seems to me to be to tread lightly in these situations and try to avoid using any more force than absolutely necessary. Otherwise my conscience will gather up all the stones I threw at others and keep throwing them back at me till I make amends.
 
MarthaSo said:
I’ve heard so many good old days stories where neighborhood women yelled at somebody else’s child or teen when they were doing something wrong and the mom was fine with it, I think maybe it was just the times back then?. Now if you try to steer, maybe sternly, someone else’s child doing wrong it doesn’t seem like it would be so welcome in this era.
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Haha, I did that just this weekend. My youngest and I are, like, six stories up on top of a wooden roller coaster platform, waiting for Dad and Big Brother’s ride to come in, and this four-year-old is trying to climb on top of the rail. Mom’s standing right there ignoring him, and focusing on her baby. It’s a loooooong drop if he overbalances and falls, and although the roller coaster tracks are beneath him, it’s definitely gappier than what I want to be standing on at six stories up.

“Excuse me, small child, but do you think that’s a good idea?”

He was remarkably prompt to climb down. The mom continued to ignore both of us.

I felt bad having to step on the mom’s toes… but I figured I would have felt worse if he fell. 😦
 
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