CHURCH TRIALS by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 22, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 12.

CHURCH TRIALS.

By H. A. St. John

BY ELDER H. A. ST. JOHN.

How many church books are smirched with records of disgraceful so-called church trials! How sickening the details! How painful to read these recitals of charges, criminations, and recriminations! Who ever read of Jesus calling a church trial? Where is it recorded that he purposely attended one? We remember, however, that he was present on one occasion at a church trial. Obviously the place was the temple court. He did not go to the trial, but the church brought the trial to him. He was sitting, and at once became chairman of the meeting. As usual, there was a woman in the case, but the men were the worst. The prominent male members were promptly on hand with a distinct and fearful charge, and also the accused. They did better than some church trials, which are supposed to proceed better when the accused is away. They set the woman in the midst, and then vehemently presented their charge of actual adultery, reminding the Saviour of their old established method of dealing with such cases.

Jesus heard it all in silence, all the while writing upon the ground. He was not writing down the testimony against the accused, however, but he was writing up facts against the accusers. Meanwhile the accusers, thinking to hasten the proceedings, reiterate the charge and urge a decision. Then it was that Jesus stopped writing, and, casting a look at the woman’s accusers, mildly but simply said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground." John 8:7, 8. All is silence. This one first statement of Christ has turned the thoughts of these accusing church members in upon themselves—a most excellent thing for accusers always to do. If they who are so often engaged in accusing their brethren would more frequently and intently "consider themselves," in the light of God, the truth, and the judgment, they would not be so ready to throw the stones of accusation at others.

But Jesus continues to write upon the ground. By this time they must have become curious to know what Jesus was writing. We imagine them intently stretching forward to read the handwriting of the Son of God on the ground. We imagine that the record began with the name of the oldest pharisaical accuser, followed by a recital of some secret sin of which he was guilty, and which he supposed was known only to himself. Deeply mortified if not convicted and humbled, he is assured that he is in the presence of the Searcher

of hearts; the place becomes too terrible for him; and, fearing exposure, he quietly but quickly withdraws. The next older peruses the record to the second item. Astonished to find the second paragraph devoted to his name and some of his hidden iniquity, he too quickly slinks away. Thus one after another, for the same reason, beginning with the oldest, they all left the meeting, being convicted by their own consciences. The presence of the All-seeing One, and the presence of their sins, was not a comfortable presence for them. Was there ever a meeting dismissed after that manner? Jesus then looking up said to the woman, "Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more." Jesus mentioned her sin, but not to condemn or destroy. His tender words of pity and mercy must have melted her heart into penitence and love, and transformed her from that time forth into a pure and devoted disciple.

How many church trials would be silently dismissed, and the poor accused sinner saved, if the selfish, sinful, accusing professors could see Jesus writing their secret life record, not upon the ground or the shifting sands, but actually writing in a book of permanent records, beyond the reach of mortals, in heaven—a record for the great judgment day.

May God help every reader to learn of Jesus to not be too harsh or hasty in condemning even the manifestly guilty, but ever remember that, like Jesus, it is your mission to seek and to save the lost.