My brother and I loved to pretend we were big league baseball pitchers when we were boys. We would make a pitcher’s mound and a home plate and spend hours throwing balls into the “strike zone.” In time we both developed pretty good throwing arms. We could throw a ball or rock farther than most boys our age.

I recall one time when we were throwing snowballs from the hill on the way to school down toward a man loading wood onto a sled that was being pulled by two horses. When I threw with all my might, I almost hit a horse and the team bolted. A woman was walking by and was frightened.

The incident was reported to the officials, and that afternoon a man came to our school to warn us of the danger that we had put people in. He did not try to find the culprits (or culprit) who did the deed, but the warning and our own consciences were enough. We never again threw snowballs from the hill.

Carrying a reminder

Not long ago I visited a dear friend, and during our conversation he showed me a smooth stone that he carried with him all the time. It was not a large stone and looked rather attractive since it had been polished. He explained that he carried the stone to remind himself not to throw stones at others.

I thought it was a great idea and I have been carrying my own little stone ever since.

Casting the first stone?

I often think of the powerful story in the Bible of the woman caught in adultery. She was brought before Jesus Christ by men who were mentally ready to throw stones at her (John 8:1-11). They wanted to stone her to death for her sin (Deuteronomy 22:22).

Jesus knew she was guilty. However, He had not come to judge but to save lives. It must have been an enormous relief to the woman when her accusers left and when Jesus said He did not condemn her. One can only wonder what her thoughts were at this time.

The men ready to stone her had sins that also needed to be forgiven. When Jesus said that he who was without sin could cast the first stone, each man left. As Christ wrote in the dust, apparently each man came to recognize that he also had sinned.
I want to keep my stone in my pocket because I, too, recognize the fact that I have sinned and that Jesus died for my sins when He could have just as easily condemned me. I do not want to be like the men who were ready to condemn and stone the woman. I want to be like Jesus Christ who recognized sin, but also introduced a new way of thinking. Forgiveness from God requires a repentant heart that God recognizes. The true goal of every Christian ought to be that he or she becomes like Jesus Christ in his or her thinking (Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2).

It is easy to throw stones, but it is godly to remember that we, too, need to be forgiven. That kind of attitude shows that we value the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Not jumping to judgment

People who have learned to be slow to judge, criticize or give advice are people who are loved by many. They have friends and the respect of those they interact with. All of us seem to be ready to give advice or tell people how things should be done long before we are asked.

That “bent” toward being judgmental is part of the motivation humans have for throwing stones at each other. Often we deflect criticism of ourselves by looking at others. It seems to make us feel better when we can find flaws in another person. Perhaps our own flaws seem smaller then. Jesus spoke to that in Matthew 7:3-4 when He stated that we are to be sure our own eyes are clear before we reach out to remove a speck from the eyes of our brothers or sisters.

Words that break bones

The stones we throw most often come from our mouths. One often hears of young people who have been bullied and pushed aside to the point that they despair of life. Words can destroy lives just as surely as the biggest rock.

Proverbs 25:18 speaks to the damage words can do. Words are likened to a club, sword or sharp arrow. Proverbs 16:27-28 reveals that words have the power to separate the closest friends and that ungodly men dig up evil about others.

Most often those motivated to spread rumors and gossip are people who have very low opinions of themselves and are trying to feel or look better by making others feel or look worse. This is one of the worst forms of selfishness and self-centeredness. We make ourselves feel better by throwing stones at others.

Casting blame

In Genesis we can read about Adam and Eve. Although they both sinned, they simply could not admit that they were to blame. Eve blamed the serpent, Adam blamed Eve and, in a way, both blamed God. Nowhere in the account is seen the self-examination and repentance that God seeks from humans.

To the credit of the members of the gang who were eager to stone the adulteress brought before Christ—they did look at themselves and slunk away when they recognized their own sins. The lesson leads to a much better life. When we are spiritually strong enough not to require the façade of self-righteousness to hide behind as we accuse others, then life becomes much happier and healthier. We can be more like Christ and less like the stone throwers.

Practicing

My brother and I became very good at throwing baseballs because we practiced a lot. So, too, a critic can throw bigger and more damaging stones through practice. We can improve in any facet of life through practice. We can even get good at looking into what is taught in the Bible, God’s mirror, and asking if we should throw stones. We may even be able to curb our often-wayward tongues and learn to cause healing to take place in our interactions with others.

Proverbs 16:21-24 is encouraging. We can add “health to the bones” of others just as Jesus did to the adulteress. It seems His admonition to “go and sin no more” was not lost to this woman because He did not throw a stone with His mouth or with His hand.

I carry a little stone to remind me to be more like Him. It also reminds me to practice looking in God’s mirror. But whether you carry a stone in your pocket or not, remember not to throw one!

Recommended reading

To read more about how to stop throwing stones at others in your life and to start thinking in a more spiritual frame of mind, please request our free booklet Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion.