Piling On

Nov 9, 2021

"'Teacher,' they said to Jesus, 'this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?'... Jesus stooped down and wrote something in the dust with His finger. They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up and said, 'All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.'... When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one..."

- St. John, John 8:4-7

Will Munny: "It's a helluva thing, killing a man..."

The Schofield Kid: "Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming..."

Will Munny: "We all got it coming, Kid..."

- Movie: Unforgiven

Anyone who has ever played Pop Warner football as a kid is familiar with the phrase, "piling on." It's a technique they teach you early in the game and it carries all the way through to the NFL. The action goes like this: When the ball carrier is tackled by a defensive player… immediately, no matter where you are on the field, if you're playing defense, you race to the spot where the ball carrier was tackled… and… you "Pile on!" Even if the ball player is down on the ground… still, you throw your weight onto the pile. Why? First, to make sure they're down. Second, to make sure they feel a little pain as they get up.

It's called, "Piling on." But, lately, I've noticed that this phenomenon doesn't just happen on the football field. It's happening everywhere… in media, in politics, on social media, in schools, at work, in church, in families, with neighbors, among friends. As soon as someone is criticized or accused or questioned or stumbles or falls or fails… Wow!... just watch how other people "Pile on."

"You know… I never really liked him..."

"I always thought there was something wrong about her..."

"Well, if you knew what I knew about him, it would all make sense..."

"It was bound to happen sooner or later..."

"I'm not surprised… You could just look at her and know the shoe was gonna drop..."

"They should throw the book at him..."

"I hope she gets everything and more that's coming to her..."

"Piling on" when someone's down seems to be the most popular activity in today's world. It's the trendy thing to do! Almost immediately, it connects you with a whole team of people who start piling on all the evidence, real or contrived, that reinforces the group's consensus that the person who’s fallen deserves everything they get… and probably more. Which is why Jesus stands out from the crowd… And I love Him for it!

In John 8, a woman is caught in adultery. Almost immediately everyone in town "Piles on." Justice demands that she is stoned to death for her crime. As they all pick up a rock, Jesus writes something in the dust. What did He write? I think He was etching into the dust all the sins that those present had committed in the past week…

Bob… you lied to your wife...

Susan… you cheated your co-worker...

Samuel… you're hiding a pornography problem...

Linda… your alcohol problem is out of control...

Tom… your anger… your jealousy… your lust… your greed… it's wrecking your family!

I think Jesus just wants us all to look at the people in our world with the humble understanding that we all deserve what's coming to us… that we have all broken the Law of Moses… But, thank God in Heaven, that we have a Savior before us who offers us all grace!

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, 'Where are your accusers? Didn't even one condemn you?'

'No, Lord,' she said.

And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'"

- John 8:10-11

If, today, someone in your circle has put a bullseye on another who has fallen or failed or just screwed up… don't just "Pile on." With an honest awareness of your own failings and mistakes, why not stand against the crowd's quick judgement and pray for the one who has fallen… or raise the possibility that we do not have all the facts… or remind the crowd that Jesus is present with Grace for every mistake, for every sin...