Passing the buck Week 28, 2014

Putting the blame for my failure, my sin, or wrongdoing on another; that’s what passing the buck means. I wonder if anything keeps people from repentance as powerfully as it. "How blessed are those who mourn, because it is they who will be comforted! Mt 5:4(ISV).  But rather than mourn we point an accusing finger, we rope in another. Consider a man who beats his wife. “My wife kept taunting me and challenging my masculinity.” What of adultery? “She was denying me; and there was this lovely one who understands and appreciates me. What could I do?” The mistress who has abused her maid offers a similar excuse, “Yes I know I dealt hardly with her but it is her fault. I warned her several times not to take my children’s clothes.” The refusal to accept that I am responsible for my own actions and deserve the punishment is as ancient as the Garden of Eden saga. “I will behave well if so and so will also behave well.” That is Satan’s deceit. No relationship with God gets right until we accept we are responsible, we have sinned, and the fault is ours. I will go … and say to …, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your ... Treat me like one of your workers.' Lk 15:18, 19(CEV).

Ever heard it said, “Yes I did wrong but so-and-so precipitated it.”?You know, you can’t precipitate what is not in solution. “It was the economic situation that caused it. The police who insist on bribe that caused it. My daughter must get employment, get into higher institution and those wicked people demanded it. It’s not really entirely my fault!” If wickedness is not in you, nothing will precipitate it. Until we accept responsibility for our actions reconciliation with parents, spouses, friends, and most of all God waits, and we slowly but surely pine away in our errors. 'I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve. He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit; my life will see the light.' Job 33:27-28(ISV).  I have sinned. I brought this on myself. When will you say this to yourself and those you wronged? How many a marriage is hurting because each partner points at the other for the fault? Stop passing the buck. The son didn’t blame the economic situation of the present famine. He did not blame his employer who paid him so low pigs were better off. But we blame unequal distribution of wealth for theft, forgetting that the greatest thieves in all countries are the rich. We blame unemployment for crime forgetting the collaborators of crime with secure, well paid jobs. These are no exceptions to the rule: it is so in every continent and among all races. Black, white whatever. Accept the blame, but turn now to God.  Have mercy, God... Wash me from my iniquity, cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgression; my sin remains continually before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done what was evil in your sight. As a result, you are just in your pronouncement and clear in your judgment. Ps 51:1-4(ISV) 

The blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanses us from every sin.