I don’t know much about Scientology, but from what I’ve learned from a World Religions course in seminary, the main function of the cult is blackmail. The two-hour documentary series, Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison of Belief based on the book by Lawrence Wright, a defector of Scientology, confirms this tactic. He said one of the ways the cult controls its members is by their requirements to confess their deepest and darkest secrets for “forgiveness and future accountability.” Imagine coming to our church membership class and me saying, “For you to be a part of this church, I need to know your secrets. Go.” Then following that awkward confession up with, “Now you need to know if I sense you’re going to another church I will share these with the world.”

No thanks. While reading John 8 I couldn’t help but think of this analogy, and chuckle a little, when Jesus confronts the crowd of people who have brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Him testing His Jewish ethic. If Jesus were to adhere to Judaism at this moment, this woman’s head will soon become a bullseye for rocks. Instead, Jesus flips the script and encourages the first to toss a rock to be the one without sin. Slowly, they drifted off one by one. Then Jesus asks the woman, “Where are your accusers? Did even one of them condemn you?” After telling Jesus “No,” He does what sets Him apart from every other world religion and cult, He declares, “Neither do I condemn you. Now go and sin no more.”

You don’t need to join Scientology for someone to know all your secrets. Jesus knows them. The difference is, knowing the deepest darkness about us, He is gracious enough to forgive us and send us on our way. This is the heart of the gospel: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom.5:8) The next time the crowd, or your mind begins to condemn you or remind you of your past, dwell on the words of Jesus, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

He knows… and He’s forgiven us anyway. What a glorious God we serve.