It's His Fault (The Blame Game)
Scripture Reference: Romans 1:20-32
Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on October 13, 2019
Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson
www.mountzionfamily.com
Opening—This morning look to the person sitting near you and then point to a man across the room and say, “I did it, but it’s his fault.” Open with prayer.
Read Scripture
When my youngest daughter was a few years younger, she asked me so politely if she could color with some crayons. I watched as she walked through the living room with a box full of crayons in her hands, and a coloring book under her little arm. She strolled right through the living room and into her bedroom and began coloring. As she colored she sang and hummed top herself. After a few minutes, the sounds stopped. Wanting to check on her, I walked into her bedroom. What I saw next will forever be seared into my brain.
Obviously the coloring book was not enough for her, so she decided to draw a mural on her wall. The mural was as detailed as a three year old could make it. She had a picture of her mommy and me, along with her and her two sisters. She drew a big heart around all of us and had a rainbow and clouds; it was definitely a three-year-old work of art.
When I walked into her room, she was admiring the masterpiece. She didn’t even see me enter. As I looked along with her, all I said was, “Charity.” Slowly she turned and looked at me, and sat down on the bed with her crayons still in her hand. I then asked her, “Who colored on the wall?” Without batting an eye she replied, “I think mama did it!” Well, I’ve seen her mama (my wife) draw. The artwork wasn’t quite up to Jessica’s caliber; so I asked again. I said in a harder tone, “Charity, who colored on the wall.” Again, without missing a beat she replied, “Well, I did, but it’s your fault. You told me I could go in my color in my room.”
Blame. We’ve all been guilty of playing the blame game. Let’s be honest for a moment. Our society loves passing the buck or blaming others for one’s own problems. If you’ve been one of unlucky ones that have been keeping up with politic in America you’ll be quite aware of the blame game. Democrats are always blaming President Trump for every wrong doing in our Country. Republicans are always blaming Democrats.
Liberals blame Conservatives; and vise versa. Our society blames gun violence on guns instead of people, blames the drug problems on addiction rather than personal behavior, and blames the weather on global warming. It is even been reported in the Washington Post that President Trump is responsible for the hurricanes that struck Puerto Rico a few months back.
Whenever something bad happens, we immediately find somebody or something to blame for the problem. When Hurricane Katrina stormed through New Orleans, the people blamed it everything from poor construction of the levies to white supremacy wanting to kill poor, black people. When the Twin-Towers fell and the attacks on the Pentagon took place on 9/11, people blamed the incident on everything from extremist Muslim groups to a President Bush and an inside job. The current fires in California have been blamed on everything from dry weather, to the President, to mismanagement of the local leaders. Whenever there is an unfortunate shooting, we blame everyone from the gun manufacturer, to the government, to the NRA. We love the blame game. There’s a false belief out there that there’s always somebody or something responsible for every action or mistake we do.
We live in a society that people have a hard time taking personal responsibility for their actions. Our Nation even has a special day set aside for it. The first Friday the 13th on the calendar is called “National Blame Someone Else Day.”
People want to blame their mom or their dad for the choices they made. It’s the drugs’ fault for causing people to become addicted. It is the guns’ fault for the shootings that occur. It’s the teachers’ fault children are acting out in class. It’s the coach’s or the referees’ fault the athlete has no discipline. It the police officers’ fault, the other drivers’ fault; it is always someone else fault when mistakes occur.
The blame game is not a new game. (1) For the next few minutes we are going to look at a few examples of people in the Scriptures that passed the blame onto somebody else instead of taking responsibility. (2) Secondly, we’ll discuss the things we can’t blame on others. (3) Finally, we’re going to discuss where we can place the blame and how to take responsibility for our actions.
Throughout the Bible, we find many examples of people, not assuming responsibilities for their own actions or behavior, but instead "passing the buck," blaming others for their own mistakes.
Adam & Eve
The first place blame is passed in found in the Garden of Eden. God instructed man not to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. However, we all know the story, the serpent tempted Eve and she ate of the fruit. Eve then tempted Adam and he ate of the forbidden fruit. They then saw their sin and hid themselves from the sight of God. When God called for them, they began to pass the blame for who caused them to sin. Eve quickly blamed the snake. Adam blamed the woman, then even blamed God for giving him the woman. But in reality, whose fault was it that Adam and Even fell into sin. It was by their own actions, their own willingness, their own fleshly Cain that caused them to fall from grace.
People today are guilty of the same things. The Bible tells us what things that He expects us to avoid. God’s given us the command, not in one tree anymore, but in 10 firm stone commandments that tells us “Thou Shalt Not.” He tells us that the results of doing these things that He has forbidden us to do will cause us problems. And we look at that sin and say, “It’s no big deal.” Then when we partake of that thing which God condemns, and punishment comes, it is always someone else’s fault.
We see people doing this all the time. Unmarried couples have sex, the woman gets pregnant, and instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they opt to murder the child. People miss out on church and blame their job, or the boss, or their busy schedules.
Cain & Abel
Another place is recorded shortly thereafter. Scripture tells us that Adam and Eve had two sons: Cain and Abel. Because of jealousy, Cain rose up and murdered his brother because Abel offered a better sacrifice. After the cruel murder Scripture says…
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
In reality, he’s saying, “God that’s your job to keep up with him; not mine.”
Abram & Sarai
Scripture also tells us the misfortune of Abram and Sarai. They were advanced in years, but really wanted to have a child. God had even promised that they would have a child. Instead of waiting for God’s timing, Sarai wanted to rush things a little. Therefore, Sarai said to her husband to have relations with her servant, Hagar, so that she may have a child. Abram listed to his wife and with Hagar conceived Ishmael.
Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.” (Genesis 16:5)
Jacob & Esau
Jacob and Esau were twin brothers; Esau being the older son. Being the oldest, he was entitled to greatest inheritance. Esau came home hungry one day and saw Jacob in the kitchen. Caring more for his belly than his future, he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup. After Isaac gave the inheritance to Jacob, Esau became infuriated and even vowed to kill his brother. Scripture tells us where Esau placed the blame…
Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” (Genesis 27:36)
Moses & Aaron
Moses had led the nation of Israel out of the Egypt towards the Promised Land. God chose Aaron to be Moses’ “helper” or second in charge. When Moses went up onto Mount Sinai, he tarried, hearing from God the commandments that he was to give to God’s people. During these 40 days that Moses was on the mountain with God, the people grew tired of waiting. The people asked Aaron to make them a god so they can follow it to a better place. When Moses came back from atop the mountain, he saw the sin and folly the Israelites were committing. He saw them worshipping the golden idol and immediately confronted Aaron for allowing this to have happened. Scripture tells us…
“Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. 23They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ 24So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (Exodus 32:22-24)
Pilate & the Jews
Even during the crucifixion of Jesus, do you remember what Pilate did? First, he had Jesus beaten until he was almost unrecognizable. Then still finding no fault that would cause Jesus to be executed, he allowed the people to make the decision to choose who they wanted to release: Jesus or Barabbas. When the people chose the murder Barabbas, Scripture says Pilate did this…
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” (Matthew 27:24)
Our opening verses are the ultimate biblical authority in personal responsibility. Alone and without excuse we will all stand before God to give an account for our lives. The choices we have made, the friends we have chosen, the deeds we have committed and the words we have spoken will all be laid bare. Christianity’s core doctrines help us see that no one else but us is responsible for the ATTITUDES we have fashioned, the ACTIONS we have favored, the AFFECTIONS we have fostered and the AFFILIATIONS we have formed. When we accept personal responsibility for these areas, then we are empowered to change them.
Part 2—Things We Can’t Pass Blame On
1. You Can't Blame Anyone for Your Eternal Life
2. You Can't Blame Anyone Your Understanding
3. You Can't Blame Anyone for Your Spirituality
4. You Can't Blame Anyone for Your Sins
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)
Part 3—How to Take Responsibility
1. Seek Ways to Glorify God
2. Seek Ways to Love Your Neighbor
3. Seek Ways to Bring Salvation to the Lost
4. Seek Ways to Become the Likeness of Christ
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
