It's Not My Fault!
"It's not my fault!"
How often have we heard—or even said ourselves—those exact words when something we're involved in goes wrong? It's often an initial reaction. Nobody likes to be wrong or liable, and we often can quickly grope for ways to explain away or justify failure or setback by placing blame on everyone else but ourselves.
How can this reaction hurt us? Living a Christian life and receiving its incredible benefits starts with a simple, but often tough, act. What is it? We must recognize and admit guilt, inadequacy and wrongdoing in thought and behavior. For a human that is courageous and bold—and often contrary to how we might otherwise feel.
There are many biblical examples of this. When the apostle Peter preached his first major message, his words harshly indicted thousands gathered in Jerusalem. It's possible, even likely, that many who heard Peter were present and involved in the mob preceding Christ's crucifixion in Jerusalem just a few weeks earlier. Notice how he openly confronts them:
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst…you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death" (Acts 2:22-23, emphasis added throughout). He then added in verse 36: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).
Peter's point? Those present shared in the collective responsibility and reason why Jesus was put to death. Those assembled could have easily tried to shift the blame on to the Jewish leaders who openly hated and opposed Christ, then on to Herod who feared Christ, and on to the Roman government that actually executed Jesus. After all, they didn't actually run the spear into his side or drive nails into His limbs. But perhaps surprisingly, their reaction was not to shirk the indictment, but to accept responsibility:
"Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 3:37).
This is the key question for all who truly wish to be a Christian: "What shall we do?"
Peter answered:
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
What he said was that one must change his ways, make a commitment through baptism and then receive God's Spirit.
The process is straightforward, but it starts with humbly taking responsibility for your life and being willing to yield and do something about it. This attitude should continue through your life.
Paul writes in Galatians 6:4-5:
"Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others…Each person must be responsible for himself" (New Century Version).
Ask yourself: Are you taking responsibility for how you conduct your life, or are you tempted to become a victim of what someone else has done?
In my role as president of the United Church of God I must continually ask this. "If things don't always go the way I like them to, I need to find solutions and remedies. I must recognize and admit that we must do things better."
This position is the most constructive. It garners support and respect.
Fixing blame continually on others is delusional and doesn't help. Christianity is a life of accountability, change, and consequent blessings from God. Let's all view our lives in the light of this principle!
I'd like to offer you Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion, as a study aid to help you understand what an accountable Christian is. This free study guide is available online at www.ucg.org/booklet/transforming-your-life-process-conversion/.
P.S.: Please let me hear from you about how you have come to understand our Savior better through taking responsibility for who you are. Email me at victor_kubik@ucg.org.
