1.13.15

Post date: Jan 13, 2015 8:33:02 PM

A couple of years ago, we interviewed a girl who used to cut and she told us that she “resents the fact that she can’t cut anymore.” When I asked why she resents it, she responded by saying, “Other people can drink, do drugs, whatever to cope with their life and no one says anything to them, but I can’t cut.” It seems in her case, she stopped cutting because her friends and family implied to her that if she didn't stop cutting they would stop seeing her, supporting her. She was even told by a Christian counselor that “God hates that you cut.” When asked how that made her feel, she responded with, “God hates me because I cut.”

In John 8:4, the Pharisees saw a woman caught in the act of adultery. They said to Jesus,

“The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

At first Jesus was silent, writing in the sand, but after repeated demands by the teachers of the law Jesus replied,

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

When we hear of someone who cuts to get rid of pain, many will look at that person differently than someone that drinks, does drugs, or even overeats to get rid of pain. And that is why the girl we talked to resented that; because she didn’t understand why her method of coping was worse than someone else’s. She was especially confused as to why God would hate her because she chose that particular method of coping. However, that theology is wrong. God doesn't hate our methods of coping, whether it’s drugs, cutting, overeating, etc. Jesus hates the sin and He wants to stop the negative tape inside that causes the sin.

When Jesus said these words, the accusers left one by one. Finally, the only ones that were left were the woman and Jesus. Then he said “ Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Jesus doesn't condemn our method of coping. All He wants to do is stop the negative “parasitical” tape that plays inside our head day after day after day. Jesus knows that if we accept His love that is patient, kind, without envy, or boasting…love that is not proud or rude…love that KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS, that we will be free. Free from the urge to sin, the urge to self harm, the urge to “cope” because the negative tape will be replaced with a perfect love that can only come from Jesus Himself.