It's time to stop pointing fingers and start reaching out

 

Mrs Sweetie and I recently watched the 2014 Disney movie Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie.  In this retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story from the 1959 film, we learn what caused Maleficent to be transformed from a charming and innocent fairy to the “Mistress of All Evil.”  It was someone else’s fault.  She was a victim of someone else’s obsession with power.

I’m thinking about that this morning as our country continues to reel from the tragic events of the past few weeks.  Videos of men being shot by police officers.  Videos of a crowd of protesters scattering as a demented sniper picked off one police officer after another.  Prayer vigils and protest marches.  #Black lives matter.  #Blue lives matter.  #All lives matter.  How did we get here?

And whose fault is it?

On a much smaller scale, but still significant in the evangelical Christian world, the pastor of one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the country was asked to step down on July 1 because of his “unfortunate choices and decisions that have caused much concern” among board members.  Some of those unfortunate choices have been made public and others have not.  Strong opinions have been and will continue to be expressed.

Whose fault is it?

I am in no way equating the magnitude of these two issues.  Racism has existed in the United States for all of our 240 years.  The mega-church and rock-star pastor phenomenon is only about a generation old.  But something that crosses all racial, socioeconomic, gender, culture, and faith lines is this:  our obsession with discovering the root cause because we somehow think that will help us fix it.

In my book, Culture Wars,  I identified four characteristics of what I refer to as the “Blame Game” Culture.

1. A passionate need to assign accountability.
2. An overemphasis on punishment and retribution.
3. An inability to release bitterness until a personal sense of justice has been satisfied.
4. An alarming avoidance of personal responsibility.

I am reminded of a story about G.K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936), an English writer, lay theologian, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, literary and art critic, biographer, and Christian apologist. In 1910, he wrote a book entitled What’s Wrong with the World?The Times once sent out an inquiry to famous authors, asking the question, “What’s wrong with the world today?” Chesterton responded simply, “Dear Sir, I am. Yours, G.K. Chesterton.

As long as I fail to acknowledge my OWN racism, greed, thirst for power, arrogance, self-centeredness, and every other vice that the Bible describes as SIN, I will keep pointing fingers and choosing to wallow in the mud and muck of the Blame Game.  If we are indeed victims, we are the victims of our choices.

 

If we are indeed victims, we are the victims of our choices. Click To Tweet

#Our lives matter to God.  We MUST STOP pointing fingers and START reaching out—first to Him and then to each other.  #RIGHT NOW.

 

 

For information on some of my recent books, click on the covers below.

 

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Culture Wars cover

30 Days Cover

About

Just an ordinary guy living an amazing life. Amazed by God and joining Him in His amazing activity in the world. Seeking the flourishing of fellow travelers. Author, Blogger, Speaker, Singer, CoachSultant, Husband, Dad, Grandpa.