The Blame Game

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself.

You are not that important.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:1-10 NLT)

GK Chesterson, that wonderful theologian from days now long past, was an outspoken - yet practical - defender of the Christian faith. One time, a local newspaper ran an editorial which simply asked:

"What's wrong with the world?"  G.K. Chesterton’s response? "I am."

In a society and world bent on blaming everyone else - and none of us are exempt from that truth - the Christian faith (above all other belief systems) demands that each person be held responsible for their own sin…while simultaneously helping those around us who are caught up in sin - while never judging them.

That’s a pretty tall order, if you ask us.

Why? Because it is always easier to place the blame for our shortcomings on someone else. It soothes the soul to say, “Well, I wouldn’t have done that if that person didn’t do what they did!” Or, “I would never have said what I said…IF THEY DIDN’T talk to me that way!”

Blame everyone else. Never accept our own faults. Always look at the wrong in everyone else. 

It’s the way of the world, but it is not the way of the Word.

In his letter to the fellowship of believers at Galatia, Paul offers very practical information on how we should each deal with sin - as followers of Jesus.

1. Help those who are caught/trapped in sin.

2. Don’t allow temptation to cause you to fall into the same trap they are caught in.

3. By helping that person you are obeying the law of Christ to love God and love others.

4. By not judging another, you are remembering - in humility - that you are in need of grace as well.

5. By helping someone else in need of mercy and grace you will be reminded to take care of your own self and not live a life of comparison with others.

6. By living a life of mercy you will harvest mercy in your own life.

7. If we keep planting mercy in the lives of others - there will be a time when we reap a harvest of blessing in our own lives.

8. This life of mercy should be lived everywhere and with everyone - BUT ESPECIALLY with those who are our sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus. 

What’s wrong with the world?

It’s not drugs.

It’s not guns.

It’s not drag queens.

It’s not conservatives.

It’s not liberals.

It’s not racism.

It’s not social media.

It’s not the government.

It’s not your neighbor.

It’s me. It’s you. It’s us.

Perhaps if we lived by Paul’s words in Galatians we would be in a better place - literally and spiritually. 

Maybe if we heeded the words of Micah 6:8 - “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” - our lives would be filled with more joy. 

Certainly, if we took to heart the words of Jesus from Luke 17:3-4 - “So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive” - we wouldn’t be consumed with blaming others, but rather sharing with them the mercy and grace which has been given to us. 

What a wonderful world it would be…