“I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough…”
January 6th, 2008
John 8:1-11 - Stuart Smalley was a character on Saturday Night Live that used to say, “you’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you.” The first principle for happiness in 2008 is stop judging yourself. Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, “neither do I condemn you. Go your way and from now on don’t sin again.” Rather than discuss and debate, rather than pass judgment and condemnation – Jesus has chosen the only path that offers and opportunity for new life. He has forgiven the woman. If Jesus does not judge us, why then should we judge ourselves?
“I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough…”
John 8:1-11
1. Back in the 1980’s, for those of you who enjoy late night television, there was a wonderful character on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live called Stuart Smalley.
A. Portrayed by Al Franken, and inspired by Franken’s experience at Al-Alon meetings, Stuart Smalley was a self-styled self-help guru with his own local access show called “Daily Affirmations.”
B. He belonged to every 12-step program imaginable and a few I didn’t even know existed.
C. Always trying to encourage people to look ahead, to be hopeful, and to not be too hard on themselves.
D. Stuart’s mantra was, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.”2. The scribes and the Pharisees had a little different approach to self-help, one that was not quite as “affirming.”
A. Brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. This was a set-up from the very beginning. Their real concern was not the law; it was in tricking Jesus.
B. First - the law that they cite only allowed stoning for adultery if the woman was a betrothed virgin. And both the man and the woman were to be stoned.
C. Second - the Romans did not allow the Jews to carry out death sentences, except in rare and exceptional cases.
D. The religious leaders thought that they were painting Jesus into a corner. They thought they were leaving him with only two options.
1) Stone her - Jesus would not seem like a “friend to sinners.” And he would have been in trouble with the Romans.
2) Let her go - Jesus would have appeared to go against the law.
E. So, Jesus scribbles something in the dirt, while he ponders his next move. Meanwhile, this poor woman awaits her sentence.
F. This was all a set up, all along, and Jesus knew it.
3. But I want to tell you something. Judgment is always a set up. Whether we are judging others or judging ourselves, it is always a no-win situation.
A. And yet so many of us do it every day of our lives.
B. We judge ourselves harshly and then punish ourselves accordingly.
C. We are our own judge and jury. There are many names and expressions for this. One of the most popular is called the “self-fulfilling prophecy.”
D. Theory goes like this. (1) We are taught something bad about ourselves. (2) We not only believe it, but we personalize it - this means that we take it as a description of our value as a person, not a judgment on a single act. (3) Because we view ourselves through this twisted thinking, we act in ways that are contrary to the purpose for which we were created. Much like the woman caught in adultery.
E. We have judged ourselves. We have found ourselves guilty. And we have even passed sentence.
F. And each and everyone one of us does this - to one degree or another.
4. Today, we are beginning a new sermon series entitled “Four Principles for Happiness in 2008.”
A. Principle #1 - Stop judging yourself (write it down).
B. Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way and from now on don’t sin again.”
C. This is huge. This is radical. Jesus has found a way out of the judgment trap. This crazy, wacky, revolutionary concept called grace, forgiveness.
D. Rather than discuss and debate, rather than pass judgment and condemnation - Jesus has chosen the only path that offers and opportunity for new life. He has forgiven the woman.
E. And this he can do because only Jesus has the power to forgive on behalf of God.
F. That’s the big surprise - the big “ta-da.” A central component of Christian theology is that we are made worthy by Jesus’ sacrifice, not by our own actions.
G. And if Jesus has forgiven you, then it is actually arrogance to stand in condemnation of yourself.
H. “Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus says to the woman. “Go your way and from now on don’t sin again.”
5. I was deeply saddened this week to hear about the further troubles of pop singer Britney Spears. This young woman is only 26 years old, and she may have already ruined her life.
A. Text book of self-judgment. You can tell what she was taught about herself just by observing the way that she behaves.
B. You are a commodity. Your value as a person is in what pleasure you provide to others.
C. At some point she bought in - but, still finds that judgment wanting.
D. She is like the woman caught in adultery. Do you think that happens in a vacuum? No. A twisted sense of who we are and what is right and wrong.
E. This is a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions when you consider what she could have done with her life.
F. And the only way out that I can see is it she learns the simple lesson that Jesus taught the woman caught in adultery. “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way and from now on don’t sin again.”
6. You see, my friends, the true gift that Jesus offers us is not just forgiveness. It is freedom, freedom from the tyranny of self-loathing.
A. By cleaning the slate and by putting the past in the past, Jesus has offered us all an incredible opportunity to live new lives.
B. He has not only admonished us to “go and sin no more,” he has given us both the means and opportunity to do just that.
C. And all that he asks from us is that we believe that he can and will do just that.
D. The first principle for happiness in 2008 is “stop judging yourself.” If Jesus is not going to do it to you, why should you do it to yourself.
E. Instead, seek the abundant life for which you were created from the one source that can deliver.
F. And always remember - and don’t ever forget - you’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, Jesus loves you. Amen.
Sermon delivered 1/6/08 at Light of the Canyon United Methodist Church, Anaheim Hills.
