Responsibility
Posted by: ba <ba@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Field Notes
Responsibility
By Michael E. Brooks
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your
lovingkindness; according to the multitude of your
tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash
me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me
from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me" (Psalm 51:1-3).
Dan Stokes, of Paragould, Arkansas, was working on
a campaign in Springlands, Guyana when he saw a
local Hindu lady come running out of her home onto
the main road carrying a snake on her broom. She
threw the snake onto the road surface and a crowd
(made up of more Hindus) quickly gathered. With
sticks and brooms they prodded the snake, keeping
it in the road. As traffic neared they would draw
back to let the cars by. None of the people
injured the snake, but they would not allow it to
escape. The first several cars saw it, and swerved
to avoid it. Finally a taxi came, driven by
someone of another religion. The driver saw the
situation, took aim and drove over the snake,
killing it. The crowd quickly dispersed. The job
was done, the snake disposed of, BUT NONE OF THEM
HAD KILLED IT. Their consciences were clean; the
requirements of their religion fulfilled.
Does that remind us of certain Biblical
characters? Perhaps Adam who said, "The woman whom
you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree
..." (Genesis 3:12). Or Cain who asked, "Am I my
brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). People are often
very good at finding ways to excuse their actions,
absolving themselves of responsibility when sin
results.
David's frank acknowledgment of his sin, and his
sincere repentance, stand in sharp contrast to
those instances cited above. David knew what he
had done, and he knew who was responsible. No
excuses. No blame. David did not say, "the woman
had no business bathing in plain view." He did not
say, "Uriah should have kept his wife under better
control." No he simply said, "I did it; I have
sinned; I am guilty." Such is the nature of true
repentance. That attitude prepares us for real
change in our lives, and it enables God to
practice true forgiveness.
One of the most important doctrines found in
Christianity is the doctrine of individual
responsibility before God. Every human being has
God-given freedom of choice. We all are
accountable to God for the choices we make.
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for
whatever a man sows, that he will also reap"
(Galatians 6:7).
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ, that each one may receive the things
done in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
There will be no shifting of the blame in judgment
–- no excuses! We all must answer to God for every
word, deed and thought done on this earth. We all
have access to the knowledge of his will. We all
have opportunity for redemption in Christ. We all
are responsible.
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