Christians fail to communicate

Whenever I have acted with grace toward someone and shared it, I get at least a couple Christians who say "But don't you think you should have told them that was sin?" Okay, from now on, I'll try to remember to add

Of course I reminded them that they know Jesus. I probe with that, and ask them how they feel about the choice they are making- are they hearing from the Holy Spirit? Is their choice making them more like a little Christ?

Some Christians think this is some kind of patsy answer. They thump-thump and say "This Bible says right there that the thing they are doing is SIN. The only proper response to them is to tell them they are IN SIN and are out of fellowship with the Lord!" This is usually followed with keeping them out of fellowship of the properly righteous real Christians.

Do I believe that alienating others for their sin is Christlike? No.
Do I believe I, my kids, friends, neighbors, pastor, city council or president will never sin? Absolutely not.
Do I have enough faith to have a frank discussion with someone, reminding them that they know Jesus and I trust they are working within that frame to take life steps?
Do I have enough faith that God is big enough to guide my loved ones without my control?

3 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone4 and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery.5 Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?”

This is like the Christians above- WE CAUGHT HER. We want know if we can prove just who is God here!

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.  

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt.7 They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.”8 Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.9 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone.10 Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” 

11 “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” 

So What Does Jesus Do?  He stoops down to meet this woman where she is-  crouching in the dirt. He stays alongside her, as he prays for her. Yeah it says write in the dirt. But if he commanded to pray without ceasing I have to assume that he is praying for her there.

12 Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.”13 The Pharisees objected, “All we have is your word on this. We need more than this to go on.” 

Jesus is plenty. He's enough. He was able to tell the woman, Go and don't sin anymore.  The religious scholars who were so sure of knowing what the Bible said about her sin-- they still answer, "We need more than this to go on."  They want to see the sinner punished, because it makes them feel better about all the work they do keeping up all the laws that they believe are necessary to be righteous. They don't want to keep company with sinners- especially ones saved by grace- because it calls into question what they've been doing for years, how they've been taught and raised.

But Jesus knows each one of us, he knows what's been going on. He is the world's Light, and no one has to stumble around in darkness. He'll stoop down in the dirt with you and love, pray and talk to you.

"They" don't really want an answer.  I do want answers. I want to stoop down in the dirt and love, and pray, and listen for Jesus with them. I am willing to let go, and let God when it comes to others' sin.  I'm not even big enough to control MY sin- I can't control the sin of others. I can only love and pray and preach the gospel of Christ so that I can be more like him and help others come along.