Walking With Christ

I follow a lot of Christian content creators on TikTok. Today, I heard a great line from Pastor Brian Trent (TrentTribe). He said, “You can’t throw stones while you’re washing feet”.

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of great one-liners about how Christians should be or what they should look like. I try to immediately start connecting with the Biblical principles behind that statement as a means of testing the validity. This one hits hard because I’ve thrown more than my fair share of stones.

John 8:7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”(ESV)
Romans 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.(ESV)
Matthew 7:1-2 (1)Do not judge, or you too will be judged. (2)For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.(ESV)

Stoning, usually a capital punishment, was almost always fatal—though there were rare exceptions, like Paul. In order for a person to pick up a stone to throw, they have to agree that the person being stoned deserves being stoned to death. This is judgement. Verbal stones can do just as much damage as physical stones. Often, the difference is that the verbal stones leave scars too deep for others to see and the body keeps on living long after the soul has died. The act of stoning, depicted in John 8, was a stark manifestation of judgment. In stark contrast, Jesus demonstrated a different kind of response.

Instead of throwing stones, Jesus washed feet. This was a deeply symbolic act of service coming from the very creator of the universe itself. This job always fell to the lowest servant in the house. Rather than cast judgement, Jesus, our Messiah, demonstrated service. This is an act of grace, humility, and true love from the very source of love. Approaching life with the grace and humility to serve as Jesus did when He was washing the feet of the disciples helps to prevent sharp words from flying freely and the hands are obviously too busy to throw physical stones.

John 13:5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.(ESV)

From His teachings to His actions, Jesus’s message was clear. As highlighted in Galatians 5:13-15, we are called not to judgment but to love and service.(ESV)

Galatians 5:13-15 (13)For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (14)For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (15)But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.(ESV)

What is in your heart is what comes out of your mouth. What fills your cup is what will spill out when you get bumped. What’s in your cup today?