“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
Apparently many Americans are having difficulty learning this lesson. People assault others on university campuses and say they were provoked by something that was said. People are denigrated for immutable qualities like the color of their skin or national origin. Even worse...people are being beaten for holding imputed attitudes or beliefs simply based on a perceived social or political affiliation.
And...it’s always somebody else’s fault.
I hear countless people rue the conditions in today’s American society; hate; racism; misogyny; xenophobia; violence... and say it’s president Trump’s fault. If he were a nicer person...we could be as well.
Baloney...If I engage in violent, divisive and hurtful behavior and blame somebody else, I am ethically corrupt, intellectually dishonest, emotionally handicapped, socially selfish and theologically ignorant.
We are called to a higher standard.
gotquestions.com has some salient things to say about this type of behavior. Part of growing up is taking responsibility for oneself. We start as infants with no personal responsibility whatsoever—everything that we need done is done for us. As we progress through the various stages of childhood, we take on more and more responsibility. We learn to tie our own shoes, clean our own rooms, and turn in our own homework. We learn that responsibility has its rewards—and irresponsibility has other, less-than-desirable effects. In many ways, the difference between a child and an adult is willingness to take personal responsibility for his/her actions. As Paul says, “When I became an [adult], I put the ways of childhood behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11).
At times, people try to avoid personal responsibility, usually through blame-shifting. Adam tried to blame Eve for his sin (Genesis 3:12). Cain tried to dodge responsibility (Genesis 4:9). Pilate attempted to absolve his guilt in the matter of the crucifixion of Christ: “‘I am innocent of this man’s blood, he said. It is your responsibility!”
(Matthew 27:24). Ultimately, attempts to pass the buck are futile. “We may be sure that our sin will find us out” (Numbers 32:23). We always answer for our own behavior. The Apostle Paul reminds us “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1)
As believers we are often part of the problem because we are humans with the same fears and feelings as unbelievers. Still, we are called to rise above those weaknesses and become part of the solution. Philippians 2:3-9 says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”
It’s called humility...let’s try it.
Live boldly out there today...
