Owning It: Taking Accountability

I've watched the unrest and tearing of the American fabric. I've watched from afar as society slowly cannibalizes itself. One gesture of grace restrained where it would've helped. One act of civility snatched away at a time. The dismantling of an empire one brick at at time. It started in the cities and is slowly working its way into the suburbs. The media covers it while fanning the flames. Politicians politicize it for personal gain and profit. Parties split, population follows like sheep following the Judas Goat. Division is the de facto condition now in the USA. Under it all emotion with little thought. 

I generally have observed from a non-political vantage point. There are some that don't know me that will accuse me of being a Republican but even my liberal friends know this isn't true. I'm an island unto myself in Christianity. If it isn't in Scripture...I don't care. When it goes against Scripture I say so and attack or ridicule it. Otherwise: "Love God and do unto others...". In matters of Christian doctrine I am dogmatic and aggressive. In all else I believe in liberty. Make your own choices just don't make me responsible for cleaning up your mess or paying for it. I already have my own children.

I used to be emotive. I used to be careless and not take responsibility for my actions. I see many in society doing the very same things. Therein I believe lies some of the problem. No one owns their behavior. Its always someone else's fault. It's Trump's fault, Biden's fault, Dr. Fauci's fault, God's fault, Satan's fault, the democrats fault, the Republicans fault, etc. Never once looking in our mirrors. We know that if we do we will see a malformed image of ourselves that we don't want to see distorted by sin and corruption from within not from outside of us. Of course we'll see it with clouded lenses with our warped perceptions. We'll see a prince or princess instead of the ogre or crone that it really shows.

I used to be conspiracy minded too. That mentality comes with many in society that believe ‘something’ or ‘someone’ is always screwing them over. It’s the proverbial underdog or victim complex. Sadly I’ve found that Christians unwilling to take honest inventory of themselves are especially guilty of this. I see it in everyday social interactions in workplaces, gyms, etc. People that can never admit they’re wrong and constantly cause conflict. I see it in people’s spouses who elbow their husband or wives in the ribs when the pastor points out a particular sin that the other spouse constantly is guilty of. They'll never once realize they’re guilty of the very same thing or even something worse. I now see this type of malfunction at the societal level. Dysfunction is probably a better descriptor. We’re all guilty, some more than others but when the Church is guilty, who is there to show the world the way to righteousness? No one wants to listen to a hypocrite. That leaves a wandering voice screaming from the wilderness nearly to faint to hear. The voice of God once a roar in people's lives now just a whisper because they've pushed Him so far away.

Far too many attribute too much ability to those they believe are evil and have power over them to harm them (Trump, Biden, Gates, etc.). Most attribute the worst intent of others every time something happens to them. I've learned to never attribute malice to that which can be explained through simpleminded ignorance or stupidity. Believe me…humans are capable of much greater stupidity at times than evil. Evil logically falls out from that stupidity. When this stupidity gathers in large numbers under in a mob mentality (mass hysteria) the stupidity gets really big too. It is often seen as pure purposeful evil (in a way it is) but in reality it is a sin of omission en masse most times. It is a whole bunch of stupid people doing a lot of really stupid things driven by pure emotion.

They are one large brutish and brainless mass acting and not thinking…like animals stampeding.

I've found that most people are not that smart. For those that are...there are always bullets and good men willing to fight evil to protect their families and neighbors. The Devil isn't behind every tree and under every rock. That assumes you are important enough to warrant his specific attention. This is unlikely. No, you don't need him to fail. You are your own worst enemy. I've found that 95% of the battlegrounds in my life were in my own head. You can drown them in alcohol or haze them out with drugs but...until you deal with your own 'demons' they'll stay put right where they're at. Squatting in your head like it's their summer home. And if you do come under the scrutiny of the Devil then you probably did something right.

In a nutshell no one owns their junk. No one takes responsibility. No one grows up. When there is no law, no need to obey any standard and no firm ground to build a solid foundation…this is the way things will end up and stay. Like adult children forever undermining siblings or parents. It is Lord of the Flies writ large. We see a population never being punished or being held to account. When there is no God there is no moral or ethical absolute. No law or more upwards. When there is no law there is chaos. Welcome to America 2021. I have news for you…God does exist and judgment isn’t just coming, it’s here. The chaos we see around us isn't a forerunner that judgment is coming, it is a sign that it has already arrived. The gates of chaos have been opened and it is God’s wrath that broke the lock on the gate. The hoof beats are approaching.

If we lived in a way that assumed God would come tomorrow I believe things would change dramatically. The fact is, most including Christians behave in a way that would lead one to conclude that they don’t even believe God exists. They're/we're wanton, reckless, violent, selfish, immoral and spiritually dead. We had all better own our sin now before they own us and put us in a predicament we can no longer be redeemed from. 

We need to carry our own baggage instead of tripping over it. God is holding us accountable for our actions. We need to live like He’s here now because in truth He already is and He’s been patient but that patience is waning as is evidenced by the judgment we are seeing around us. We need to create a culture of responsibility not a culture of blame. The farther we have strayed from God and the accountability of our own sin the the worse society has become.

Matthew 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.  As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’  Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’  But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’  Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Philippians 1:7 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.