What happens when we are working hard and pursuing what matters to us, then some how falling short of what mattered to us?  The experience is described as failure.  What happens when we fail someone whom we love? What happens when moral failure is exposed.  How are we responded to when acknowledging our failure? How does our culture respond to those who have failed?

If you watched the NFL playoffs, the Seahawk’s experienced the wonder of a comeback taking them to the Superbowl followed by the heartache of losing the Superbowl. This story isn’t about football, its about how people and our culture respond to perceived failures. After an amazing comeback defeating the Green Bay Packers what did you hear from the sports media?  Criticism of Green Bay, what they did wrong that led to losing a game they were supposed to win. Criticism of playing like the game was over before it was over, blaming coaches for not making good decisions for the team.  Fast forward 2 weeks later, with 30 seconds left in the game Seattle is inside the one yard line with 3 plays and a time out to score with a great opportunities to take the lead and win a second Superbowl. The next play was a pass was intercepted, game over, New England wins.  The booth announcers immediately questioned the call with pronounced disbelief about the offensive play call.  The media had a field day about how poor the decision was not to run the ball. The quarter back and coach both took responsibility for what happened.  Look at some tweets, ESPN comments. The criticism and judgement of a fatefull decision that lead to losing the game rushed like water out an opened fire hydrant. Not only that, some said their play call decision will go down in sports history, others said the Seahawks will never recover from this loss.  Tired yet of the criticism?

When criticism turns in to condemning one’s failure what good is this for those who know they have failed? I contend that condemning others for their failure does nothing but to discourage the heart and soul of those at the receiving end of condemnation.

There is a story of condemnation told in John 8:1-11, concerning moral failure.  “While Jesus was teaching a crowd of people who followed him, a group of religious leaders marched a partially clad woman and sat her before Jesus.” These men spoke to Jesus what the law of Moses says, “when a woman is caught in the act of adultery she is to be stoned to death.  What do you say about this Master? The leaders asked this question to trap Jesus.”  The power of this story reflects the direction Jesus took with one who was condemned. We do not know how long Jesus was silent as he drew with his finger in the dirt. When he does look up his words are firmly and  kindly directed “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”  One by one the religious leaders walked away. “Jesus looks at the woman and asks her where her accusers have gone?… They do not condemn you neither do I, go and sin no more.”

We all fail in a variety of different ways, morally, in relationships, in loving well, of doing good, in decision making, performing well, and losing in sports events. Who are we to judge or condemn those who fail. Most people feel horrible when they fail, what is important is to encourage, support, guide and celebrate the hearts of those who fail and those who acknowledge their failure.

In a culture that highly values and rewards performance we also want to learn to value,understand, care and celebrate the hearts of those people who are discouraged in the midst of their failure.