First, I saw a news story about how Chicago is very dangerous because kids are being killed on the streets and in schools. (Disclaimer: the story I saw was on the Today Show yesterday, this one, while relaying the same message, is different). It IS a tragedy that kids are being killed for no apparent reason but here was what I had an issue with. They interviewed a young man who said something to the effect of: "There are no after school programs so this is what kids do here."
I'm sorry ? What? I don't understand that comment. Kids can't choose to make better decisions than to join gangs and kill people? YES THEY CAN!!! It isn't the schools fault that the kids are choosing not to go on home and do their homework and instead are going out hurting others.
The very next story was about the David Letterman Fiasco. Honestly, I don't want to hear about it all. But again, my beef is that Joe Halderman's lawyer is trying his darndest to make his client out to have been forced to try and extort money from Letterman. Hello? Choices!!! He had a choice. No matter what Letterman did, Halderman didn't have to commit a crime for A.N.Y R.E.A.S.O.N!!!!!
I see it closer to home, too. I think is an epidemic problem in the USA. We are always trying to blame someone else for the choices we make. And the kids I see these days are even worse. The 'D' he got on his report card? Not his fault. The teacher didn't give him time to study. So, instead of finding out the whole story the parents just go yell at the teacher. Nevermind that the kids plays soccer 6 nights a week.....
OR what about this? A kid says something really rude and mean to an adult (or even another kid) and all their parents do is say "tsk.tsk. you shouldn't do that.". Where is the responsibility? Why aren't we making our kids take responsibility for the actions they take? Make them actually apologize for saying things they shouldn't be saying?
I could go on and on with the examples. But I won't. I'm in no way perfect and struggle myself with not blaming something or someone else for my sins. God cares about this! believe that God wants us to take responsibility for ourselves. Matter of fact....we are to confess our sins -- which means we HAVE to accept the responsibility of our choice to sin -- whatever that sin may be. ( 1 John 1:9). It is an individual thing. No one else can get us to heaven and no one else can keep up from it. We each have choices about everything. How we are going to respond to that person who keeps telling lies about us. How we are going to act when the people around us are choosing things that aren't Godly. We have a choice and are responsible for the choices we make. Our friends, enemies, parents, neighbors, teachers, and the strangers on the street are NOT responsible for any choice made than the ones they make themselves.
I think the big issue is this.....Churches are full of Christians who aren't Godly. I think maybe we have forgotten what it means to be a Christian. It isn't about salvation alone -- it is about a changed way of life. Showing God in all we do. Being Godly -- not just humanitarian....Not taking responsibility for the choices we make? That isn't Godly at all.
I'm right there, too. I have a difficult time taking responsibility for the choices I make at times. But I know it isn't right and that I'm just adding another sin to my list of things that need to be confessed. And I do feel that it is a HUGE issue in this country right now.
Joshua 24:15: "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Whew! I'm glad that I got that out.....Have a great weekend everybody. I'm off to lunch and a birthday party later.
In HIM --
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