“I neither defend the wrongdoer nor do I condemn him.”
Wrongdoing is unbeautiful action, action that mars the world rather than adorning it. Wrongdoing goes against the grain of the universe and yet is intrinsic to its unfolding story. It is against the background of the unbeautiful that the beautiful is distinguished.
By defending wrongdoing one makes oneself an accomplice. But neither is condemnation a simple matter. To condemn is to put oneself in the position of judge. Does one really have all of the facts? Is one’s impartiality beyond question?
Jesus said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” To cast an accusation is to run the risk of hypocrisy. That which stirs our condemnation always exists in some degree within ourselves. Otherwise we would not recognize it in the world around us.
Acts of tyranny must be challenged if there is to be justice in the world. But solving the problem of the wrong and denouncing the wrongdoer are two different matters. No soul is wrong, but minds go wrong. What misguided minds need is healing, good guidance, and an open door to new possibilities.