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Dirt and rocks

Writer's picture: Tina BrysonTina Bryson

Updated: Jan 31, 2021

I am disheartened today, but also angry and disgusted. I cannot for the life of me understand the theological gymnastics that some folks are going through to defend the actions of a man accused of dating underage girls. If you had asked me a few years ago, I would have proudly told you I was an Evangelical. That meant something. For me, it meant that we stood on the inerrant Word of God. We guided our lives by the Bible and we lived by the mantra “What would Jesus do?” Remember that verse 1 John 2:6, “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”


I can’t help but think that Jesus probably would not have been saying let He who is without sin cast the first stone in defense of Roy Moore. When I read the story of the woman caught in adultery being brought to Jesus, Christ had compassion. I can imagine Leigh Corfman being dragged to Jesus’ feet being called a liar and much worse. I do not mean to presume that Corfman has committed a wrongdoing like the woman caught in adultery, but simply to remind us that we should be angry at the things that Jesus would be angry at, and have compassion and show grace to those to whom Jesus would. Remember in the story,  we all ask the question, what did He write in the sand. Why did the accusers slip away?


My faith compels me to stand on the side of those who say they have been victimized. We cannot hypocritically say believe the woman when we believe the accused offender is liberal, but decry women as liars and fake news when the accused offender is conservative. Evangelicals have sacrificed their moral standing for political victories.


I remember reading the Left Behind series and I could never quite wrap my head around people who had seen so many extraordinary things and yet they still refused to believe. I could not understand how people could justify evil even when they had seen it with their own eyes.


But now, I understand that a little better. Folks that I have worshipped with, prayed with, served with, sang with, studied with, fellowshipped with, lived life with. Yes, those people and many others like them, continue to find new and creative ways to defend the indefensible. It was inconceivable that many in the nation could shrug off the comments of a man, in his own words, who clearly described groping women without their consent. But even that did not come close to the outrageous defense of Roy Moore where a supporter likened the accusation of a 32-year-old man having sexual contact with a 14-year-old to the Biblical story of Mary and Joseph. So, Evangelicals, help me understand in what world do we currently live where we call wrong right and right wrong.


I still believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, but the label Evangelical does not fit me anymore. I am hidden in Christ, not my political affiliation. I feel the tug on my heart that my Savior is calling me to more. We are to advocate for those whom the world shuns, not pick up a rock and be ready to stone them. So take some time to think on these words, not my words, but the words of John. “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”


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