Tuesday Reflection – June 16, 2020
Responsibility Vs Blame<\/p>\n\n\n
We live in a society that finds it much more comfortable to cast blame than to take responsibility. When we blame, we move the focus from self to the other and in this way create a false sense of virtuousness. Here\u2019s the thing, we make liars of ourselves, and to ourselves, if we cannot see where we are to be blamed, if we fail to take responsibility for what is happening to us. Responsibility will fall heavier on some parties than on others, but when we pause and reexamine the situation we should see where we could have done things differently. I remember years ago I went through a traumatic experience. For many years afterwards I placed the blame on many of the parties involved and it wasn\u2019t until I faced up to my own role and took responsibility for my action that I found peace. In Jeremiah 2 the Lord calls Israel to task for forsaking Him, their source, and for turning to unreliable sources they created for themselves. For their actions Israel would suffer and they needed to know that they were the cause of what they were enduring. Today\u2019s Watchword is Jeremiah 2: 17. Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, while he led you in the way? It is a call to take responsibility rather than place blame.<\/p>\n\n\n
In an article in Psychology Today, Dr. Susan Whitbourne gives five reasons why people play the blame game. They are:1. It\u2019s an excellent defense mechanism. We very often see people blame others where they themselves have fallen short. It takes the focus off self and places it on others. 2. We use blame to attack our partners. Rather than seek to resolve conflicts we often use blame to hurt others. 3. We are not good at figuring out other people\u2019s behavior or even our own. It\u2019s much simpler to blame them. 4. Blaming someone is much easier than taking responsibility. 5. People lie. Looking at these points one realizes that the reason why we blame others is to keep focus off ourselves, for by taking responsibility the focus will be on us and the onus to make amends, to change our path, will fall squarely in our laps. This was the call that God placed upon Israel. They should not be blaming their enemies for what would befall them. They were to take responsibility for their actions and where those actions would bring them. God\u2019s concern was not about their relationship with others or how they were treated by others, but about their relationship with and abandonment of God. Remember the crowd at the foot of the cross? They stood there blaming Jesus for being crucified but did not see their own part in the event. Think also of the crowds that stood to watch the many lynching that took place in America. The blame was placed on the persons killed, regardless of their guilt or innocence, and despite the fact that lynching broke the law. We see the same pattern repeating itself down the years to this very day. While responsibility personalizes, blame dehumanizes.<\/p>\n\n\n
Today\u2019s Watchword calls upon us to take responsibility for our actions and see the consequences of these actions as our doing. This is the only way that we will see a need to change or to become better persons. Paul says in 1 Cor 13: 11 \u2018Now that I have become a man \u2013 an adult \u2013 I have put away childish things.\u2019 Throughout the Bible we see a call to responsibility. \u2018The soul that sins shall surely die\u2019. \u2018What a man sows, that shall he reap.\u2019 \u2018Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me to give everyone as they deserve\u2019. When we face the Lord to answer to our deeds, we won\u2019t be able to blame anyone. We are cautioned to act responsibly therefore, for in so doing we will be moved to repentance, to seek forgiveness and to become better examples for our Lord. Taking responsibility makes us all round better persons and allows the Gospel to be reflected in our daily living.<\/p>\n\n\n
Bevon White<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tuesday Reflection – June 16, 2020 Responsibility Vs Blame We live in a society that finds it much more comfortable to cast blame than to take responsibility. When we blame, we move the focus from self to the other and in this\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","watchword_topic":[13],"class_list":["post-237","watchword","type-watchword","status-publish","hentry","watchword_topic-christian-living"],"yoast_head":"\n