MIKE’S MUSINGS ….

Aren’t You Tired of the Casting of Blame?

   I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of people in powerful positions blaming others for their failures! “Responsibility” is no longer an “accepted” characteristic unless things go extremely well. When failure happens, it’s always someone else’s fault! Really? Do you mean to say those in high positions are incapable of being guilty, or mistaken, even when the evidence proves they are guilty? All the actions of correctness cannot cover the actions of sinfulness! Guilt must be accepted. When recognized, it requires repentance. Blame for wrongdoing, (i.e., sin of any type) cannot be passed to another! As is the common expression, “You must own it.”

   That said, there are times when we are blamed when we are not guilty! Folks point fingers and refuse to notice their own fingers pointing back at them. Nonetheless, blame is cast unjustly: it was upon Christ Jesus! It wasn’t His sins He bore on Calvary, but ours! (1 Peter 2:24) It can be so with us.

   I muse on a passage Paul wrote to Corinth that has some bearing on this matter. Paul wrote, “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” (1 Corinthians 6:7 emp. MJD) Granted, he speaks of taking brethren to the courts of unbelievers to settle matters that should, could, and must be settled between brethren alone. Yet I muse that even lesser matters should, could, and must be settled between brethren, rather than casting blame! “It’s their fault,” need not be the “excuse” used! On many matters where there is no doctrinal issue whatsoever, why not just get over it and let it go – take the wrong, suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

   It’s utterly shameful to see what tiny, insignificant things can upset the souls of brethren! Are brethren so selfish or thinned-skinned that courtesy and kindness are ignored? Are brethren so “self-esteemed,” they think themselves above others who are not of our local work or worse our PHYSICAL relationship? What if Jesus had acted this way? Who would have followed Him or sought out His teaching?

   As Christians, we have an obligation. It is as follows: “Only let your conversation be as it becometh (i.e., “brings attention to”) the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27ff) “Conversation” is much more than our words; it is our manner of life. Let’s prove we’re responsible Christians and prove by our lives that every soul matters to us and that we love them just as Christ Jesus loved us! If they are repulsed by our words or deeds, who is to blame?