How Did We End Up Here?

Thursday, September 24th

There was a statement made on Sunday during our “Ministry Spotlight” of Celebrate Recovery, where Stephanie Johanning said, “she felt like she was seen for who she was, not what she struggled with.” Founding Pastor Bill, in our interview of how we ended up here as a church, referred back to that statement of the value of being seen. Which is my desired focus for today.

What does it mean to be “seen”? “Seen” for who you versus who you want people to think you are? To be accepted, by being seen?

I want you to read a familiar story. Actually it was a story that Nevin, our Youth and Young Adult Director shared with us at our staff meeting this week. I won’t get into all of it, but Nevin asked us, what does it look like to see the characters in the story? Actually see them? See the woman, the religious, and see Jesus? What do you notice in the story of John 8:2-11?

2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us
to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Again, you may be very familiar with the story, don’t rush past it. What do you see with the woman? The religious leaders? And Jesus?

There is a way to see others that is damning and there is a way to see others that is grace filled with correction. How do you want to be “seen”? How do you want to see others? Do those match?

Spend some time in prayer, grace, conviction, and invitation around what it means to see and be seen.