Being Responsible
Introduction. “It’s not my fault.” We hear it all the time. It is the first line of defense when we have done something wrong. After reflection most of us realize it was our fault and take steps to fix it. But some never take responsibility. They truly believe “it is not my fault.” They blame others for their lack of discipline and their emotional problems on heredity. The terrible things done through anger, jealousy, or selfishness are “just the way I am.” Since they are victims and not sinners, they feel no need to repent or confess.
A look at our courts and schools reveals how far such attitudes have taken root in our culture. Children can’t learn because they are hungry and they are unruly because of little support at home. Since they are not held accountable, they only grow worse. Even the worst criminals are set free by juries convinced by lawyers they are more the victim than the innocent person they injured. They are acquitted because it was not really their fault.
What happens when such people hear the gospel? Will they suddenly become prepared to take responsibility for their actions and admit they have sinned? Some do, but most feel no need to repent because they have no guilt. This is one reason why many are no longer responsive to the gospel.
Adam and Eve. That this is a natural part of human nature is clearly seen from the very beginning. Instead of taking responsibility, Adam blamed Eve (“the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat”) and Eve in turn blamed the serpent (“The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat”) (Gen 3:11-13). Neither said, “This is all my fault, please forgive me,” which was the truth.
God did not accept excuses. He considered them all guilty and punished the serpent for his lies, Eve for her decision, and Adam for going along with it (Gen 3:14-17). Eve could have rebuffed the serpent’s evil intent. She was responsible for her own actions even though the serpent placed a stumbling block that led her to sin. Adam could have rejected the fruit even though Eve offered it. They were all guilty, but no one took responsibility.
When we strip away all the excuses and reasons, we made the decision! Even though “evil companions corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33), we bear responsibility for allowing that influence. Instead of looking to evade responsibility, we need to seek it. Instead of making excuses, we need to assess the role our own actions played, find where we made bad decisions and repent of those things. Regardless of the role of others, we are always accountable for our own choices.
There is no doubt heredity, environment, and abuse play a legitimate role in bad conduct. But in spite of these deficits, we are all still responsible to God for our own response. The gospel gives us the power to choose. We can rise above or sink beneath them. That is our choice alone.
Israel. In Babylonian captivity, Israel chose a similar course. “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” It was not their fault. They did not eat the sour grapes. They bore no responsibility. God stripped away the veneer. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die” (Ezek 18:1-4).
They were in Babylonian captivity because of the sins of their fathers. That much was true. It made life much more difficult, but if their teeth were set on edge they had no one to blame but themselves. They could have done their best under difficult circumstances. “The soul that sins it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son” (Ezek 18:20-24). We only bear our own iniquity.
Many today respond as Israel: “You say, The way of the Lord is not equal.” They claim God is not fair; that it is not our fault, but He holds us responsible. God then revealed the truth: “Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal?” “I will judge you,” “every one according to his ways,” “Return and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” (Ezek 18:25-32).
Paul. We are all born into a world marred by sin. But we are not so marred. Each begins life as pure as Adam in the garden. Each is as alive and apart from sin as Paul: “I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive, and I died” (Rom 7:9). Guilt for sin does not begin until we choose to sin. It is our own violation of a command that makes us guilty - nothing else. We can’t blame others for what we have done ourselves. Our sins are completely and uniquely our own.
And David. When Nathan came to David and said “you are the man,” David said “I have sinned.” (II Sam 12:1-14) He did not offer any excuses - he only accepted his own guilt. So our choice is clear: make excuses or accept responsibility.
A look at our courts and schools reveals how far such attitudes have taken root in our culture. Children can’t learn because they are hungry and they are unruly because of little support at home. Since they are not held accountable, they only grow worse. Even the worst criminals are set free by juries convinced by lawyers they are more the victim than the innocent person they injured. They are acquitted because it was not really their fault.
What happens when such people hear the gospel? Will they suddenly become prepared to take responsibility for their actions and admit they have sinned? Some do, but most feel no need to repent because they have no guilt. This is one reason why many are no longer responsive to the gospel.
Adam and Eve. That this is a natural part of human nature is clearly seen from the very beginning. Instead of taking responsibility, Adam blamed Eve (“the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat”) and Eve in turn blamed the serpent (“The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat”) (Gen 3:11-13). Neither said, “This is all my fault, please forgive me,” which was the truth.
God did not accept excuses. He considered them all guilty and punished the serpent for his lies, Eve for her decision, and Adam for going along with it (Gen 3:14-17). Eve could have rebuffed the serpent’s evil intent. She was responsible for her own actions even though the serpent placed a stumbling block that led her to sin. Adam could have rejected the fruit even though Eve offered it. They were all guilty, but no one took responsibility.
When we strip away all the excuses and reasons, we made the decision! Even though “evil companions corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33), we bear responsibility for allowing that influence. Instead of looking to evade responsibility, we need to seek it. Instead of making excuses, we need to assess the role our own actions played, find where we made bad decisions and repent of those things. Regardless of the role of others, we are always accountable for our own choices.
There is no doubt heredity, environment, and abuse play a legitimate role in bad conduct. But in spite of these deficits, we are all still responsible to God for our own response. The gospel gives us the power to choose. We can rise above or sink beneath them. That is our choice alone.
Israel. In Babylonian captivity, Israel chose a similar course. “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” It was not their fault. They did not eat the sour grapes. They bore no responsibility. God stripped away the veneer. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die” (Ezek 18:1-4).
They were in Babylonian captivity because of the sins of their fathers. That much was true. It made life much more difficult, but if their teeth were set on edge they had no one to blame but themselves. They could have done their best under difficult circumstances. “The soul that sins it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son” (Ezek 18:20-24). We only bear our own iniquity.
Many today respond as Israel: “You say, The way of the Lord is not equal.” They claim God is not fair; that it is not our fault, but He holds us responsible. God then revealed the truth: “Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal?” “I will judge you,” “every one according to his ways,” “Return and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” (Ezek 18:25-32).
Paul. We are all born into a world marred by sin. But we are not so marred. Each begins life as pure as Adam in the garden. Each is as alive and apart from sin as Paul: “I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive, and I died” (Rom 7:9). Guilt for sin does not begin until we choose to sin. It is our own violation of a command that makes us guilty - nothing else. We can’t blame others for what we have done ourselves. Our sins are completely and uniquely our own.
And David. When Nathan came to David and said “you are the man,” David said “I have sinned.” (II Sam 12:1-14) He did not offer any excuses - he only accepted his own guilt. So our choice is clear: make excuses or accept responsibility.