By A. C. Quinn
Among the games children play,
especially when they are desperately attempting to
escape the retribution of parents or others in
authority, is the blame game. The object of this game is
for the child to somehow place the responsibility for
his unacceptable words or deeds on someone else, freeing
himself from whatever the consequences may be. “He did
it,” or “She did it” are the oft heard refrains.
Tragically, it is not just children
who play the blame game. Many adults play it. It is so
sad but true, too many members of the church play the
same childish game in a feeble attempt to dodge their
duties and obligations to the Lord’s church where they
worship.
Some church members who do not attend
services regularly blame their spasmodic attendance on
hypocrites. They cannot bear sitting beside a hypocrite
in the house of worship, and truly, the church does have
its hypocrites. One has to wonder, however, about the
sincerity of this rational, and when he does, he will
ask some serious questions: “Are there no hypocrites in
the restaurants and other retail businesses folks
frequently patronize?” “Do hypocrites not attend
sporting events--baseball, football, soccer, etc?”
It would appear that one so repulsed by hypocrites in
the church would be equally repulsed by them at other
events, but that appears not to be the case at all.
Christians should be disgusted with
hypocrites, but they should not allow them to become the
stumbling block which hinders them from doing their
duty. In fact, all should realize that hell will have a
sizeable population of hypocrites, and there will not be
any special seating arrangements for the self-righteous
who want to avoid them.
- A. C. Quinn preaches for the West Main Church of
Christ in Wolfe City, Texas. He may be contacted at acuen30@gmail.com
By David A. Sargent
Last weekend, Buffalo Bills receiver Steve Johnson dropped an easy game-winning pass in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Having separated himself from his defender, Johnson was wide open for a 40-yard pass, but he dropped it in the end zone.
In the next possession, the Steelers kicked a field goal to win 19-16.
Johnson was inconsolable after the game. “How would you feel?” Johnson asked.
“All of a sudden, when the biggest play needs to be made, you don’t make it. You feel bad. I’m devastated right now. … I had the game in my hands and then dropped it. I’ll never get over it.”
Johnson was so despondent after the game, he sent out a “tweet” on Twitter where he blamed God for making him drop the would-be touchdown pass:
“I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! I’LL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO…”
Steve Johnson later admitted that he spoke rashly and foolishly in blaming God for his mistake. He retracted his statements. *
Observe some parallels from Johnson’s experiences to our own…
We’ve ALL dropped the ball! “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore we have essentially “lost the game” of life, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
We can’t blame God! “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:13-15).
But, we can still “win” the victory through Christ. God sent Jesus His Son to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. When we submit our lives in trusting obedience to His will, His sacrifice is sufficient to cover our sins (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2)
Those who are victorious are those who: place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
Yes, each of us has “dropped the ball,” but because of Jesus, we can STILL triumph over sin. We can share in HIS victory -IF- we will trust and obey Him today!
Won’t YOU?
- David A. Sargent, minister for the church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY (Phil. 2:12; 3:13, 14; 4:13)- Blaming others, parents, or the environment for one's difficulties or experiences in life is unreasonable (Ex. 32:22-24; Luke 14:28). Failing to accept the consequences of one's behavior is immaturity (cf. 1 Cor. 3:1-2; 13:11; 14:20). One should own up to taking responsibility for changing weaknesses into strengths. N.B. Hardeman said, "The best place to pray for potatoes is at the end of a hoe handle." What was his point? Prayer is more effective when coupled with action.
- Across the Desk, Jacksonville, Alabama, 3-3-'05; via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
