The Blame Game

Would you be willing to accept the blame for the faults, mistakes and wrong decisions of another person?In these days and times, very few of you would probably say “yes”.Political parties blame each other for budget deficits; spouses blame each other for the failures of their marriage; criminal defendants deny responsibility for their actions; adults blame their bad behavior on people who sexually and emotionally abused them in the past; nations blame other nations for internal wars and strife, companies blame their financial shortcomings on stock market failures and shifting consumer preferences. No one wants to accept responsibility, few want to forgive, and all remain locked in a battle of finger pointing.

(Istockphoto)

The Blame Game is played by people who can’t or don’t want to admit their role in a negative situation or decision, and who look to others as being at fault.The “players” strive to make themselves look better by distancing themselves from any responsibility or accountability for the problem and therefore the solution.They fear the consequences of being involved in anything perceived as negative. This saps energy and focus from the process of dealing with present issues and taking constructive steps to improve the situation.

One Man Who Took Responsibility

There was a man however, who decided to take responsibility for the faults of an entire nation; people he didn’t even know, who lived and died before he was born, who he had no knowledge or contact with.He took responsibility for acknowledging their faults, wrong decisions, and disobedience, and took steps to train them in right behaviors, motives and decisions. This was not an easy task.This impacted an entire nation who had lost their way from the instructions God had given them about how to live. As a result, they lost their freedom, their resources, their homes, their families, and their safety.They were captives in their own land and in other lands where many of them had been taken.

This man’s name was Ezra, and he expressed personal shame, humiliation and guilt for the sins of the people.He spoke of everything God had done for them in the past, how He had blessed them, the instructions He had given them; and how the people responded by forsaking God’s guidance.He named the sins, and the repercussions of those sins.He even called out the men who had married women who didn’t believe in God and their attention and love was therefore turned away from Him. Ezra left no stone unturned in his mission to confess the faults of the people, repent from their actions, ask forgiveness, and to model changed behavior.He engaged the people in these activities off repentance as he brought them together and gave them instructions from God. Ezra was able to do this because he had prepared his heart to seek God’s law, to obey it and teach it to others (Ez. 7:10).

Who’s Going to Take Responsibility Now?

What if someone stood up today and took responsibility for the nation’s current economic crisis? What if they confessed all the financial mis-management of the past (overextended in debt, over mortgaged, financial markets in disarray, investment mistakes, etc.) and provided a solution that would bring us back into obedience to how God says we should manage our nation’s economy. What if they provided not a Democratic or Republican solution, but God’s solution.

What if someone stood up today and took responsibility for the nation’s current moral crisis? What if they confessed all the lies, deceitful behavior, stealing, killing and covetousness, and took a stand to bring us back into obedience with God’s Ten Commandments.

Sounds like a humongous task, but it’s a responsibility for Faith Centered Leaders.it’s a responsibility for men and women who believe that the Bible provides wisdom for every situation that we face, and who appropriate that wisdom to address the problems that confront us.Such men and women who accept personal responsibility for the nation’s problems and choose to lead based on their faith will face challenges, but can be assured of their reward in His kingdom as they fulfill the will of Christ.

Jesus could have rightfully blamed man for sin on the earth.But He set the ultimate example as He died on the cross for our sins, mistakes and willful bad behavior.He substituted Himself and took the punishment for our sins so that we in turn might have eternal life.He took the blame and set the standard for us.

Blaming others says “it’s all about me”.Taking responsibility to lead others in the way of Christ says “it’s all about Him.”

Copyright 2011 Priscilla Archangel