The Disease of Self

The Bible story of the adulterous woman, who was almost stoned, is a familiar one. (John 8) It’s about forgiveness and having a nonjudgmental attitude towards others—because we are all flawed and make bad choices at some time or another. However, when I read this passage recently, something else struck me.

Jesus does not condemn this woman, but He instructs her to “sin no more.” (John 8:11 NLT)

I have never committed adultery in the literal sense. Yet I have adulterated my life—debased it, made it impure by adding inferior elements to it. I have compromised myself in various ways. I have polluted and contaminated my surroundings with the choices I have made, things I have said, and things I have left undone.

God knows we are imperfect, but His goal is to mold us into His perfect likeness. His instruction to 'sin no more' means we are to—‘compromise no more, pollute no more, contaminate no more, adulterate no more.’

Of course, it is beyond our power to live a pure life. As the lyrics of one of my favorite songs says:

This disease of self runs through my blood
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
to bring this sickness under control. (In the Light, DC Talk)

This disease of self leads us into all sorts of compromising situations. Our conscience tells us that this shameful behavior needs to be kept in the dark. We are hesitant to come into the light for fear of being exposed. Yet Jesus asks us to do just that:

“I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” (John 8:12 MSG)