Word Count: 1318

Contact Dr. Henderson Ward

WHO'S AT FAULT

by Dr. Henderson Ward  
11/19/2014 / Christian Living

Our world is suffering from so many disparate calamities that it is almost an unforgivable act of cruelty to add yet another. But have you noticed how many fingers are pointing at so many people for the current failures that we are experiencing?

You don't believe me, then try this simple exercise.

Ask ten of your friends or associates or work colleagues why our country is so riddled with crime. Collate the answers and see what you have.

1. It's the police for not doing their jobs properly and enforcing the laws

2. It's the parents for not giving their children proper moral guidance

3. It's these unwed parents who know nothing about raising children

4. It's because children are no longer brought up in Sunday school

5. It's absent fathers because women can't control the young men

6. It's bad schools not teaching the kids the right way

7. It's because prison is no longer a deterrent and criminals are punished too lightly

8. It's the lack of opportunities and people are seeking alternative solutions

9. It's the rotten attitudes shown by selfish adults who care only about themselves

10. It's because people want the high life without studiously earning it

I am quite sure that some of the above will show up on your list, and indeed on any such list, because these are the reasons you read of, and hear every day, as you listen to the debates or read the comments on social media.

People, from the beginning of time, have indulged in the faulty trait of finger pointing. The blame is always someone out there; a neighbour, a colleague, a stranger, someone unknown.

And this to the extent that we do not even recognise our own failings.

We recall,with chilling clarity, the finger pointing of our original ancestors, indeed the Bible puts it like this:

"And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." (Genesis 3:12-13)

The plain truth is that finger pointing has little corrective value in the sight of Almighty God. For this reason, more than any other, Jesus time and again refused to go down the road of finger pointing and instant condemnation.

One of the problems that prevents us from dealing with the serious problem facing humanity is that we are prone to deal with the simplistic, and superficial, symptoms rather than acknowledge, and deal with, the more entrenched root causes.

Jesus tried mightily to move us away from being consumed with symptoms, and tried to get us engaged in what really mattered.

You remember how the Pharisees and Scribes were beside themselves because they observed that Jesus' disciples ate bread without washing their hands. How virulent they were in condemning the disciples for what they thought was a breach of their man-made tradition and were, at the same time, practicing the grave violation of God's commandments.

Here is how Jesus responded to their hypocritical castigation:

"But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Matthew 15:3-8)

This is typical of finger pointing. And Jesus was never going to let them get away with it.

This very same repugnant attitude was apparent, and even more virulent, when they caught the woman in the act of adultery; and confronted Jesus with her. Jesus, in a lesson fit for all ages, in an astounding rebuff to all arrogant, self-righteous people the world over, after asking any one without sin to cast the first stone said to the guilty woman:

"Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:10-11)

The plain truth is that the world is drowning in a plethora of ills right across all spectrums; social, political and economic. The flood gates of iniquity are opened, and they will not be any diminution or cessation until humanity deals effectively with its core problem.

It does not matter what laudable policies are put in place, they will not endure and sooner or later will fail; just as all man-made solutions so far have done.

It makes no difference if like-minded people of goodwill plan, organise, and implement the most socially agreeable measures; they will not solve the problems facing humanity.

The great slide in the morality, and ethics, of modern man began with the overthrow of conservative and moral rectitude in Europe; during what is called the Enlightenment of the 15th Century, followed by the emergence of Liberalism and the assault on traditional morals and disrespect for the church.

Since then the decline in the world has picked up a pace and today's society, by normal measures of civility, decency and morality, is adrift and spinning out of control.

The miasma in which humanity finds itself, the death choke-hold around its neck, the utter hopelessness of its position will not be changed until the time comes when it acknowledges its core problem a failure to acknowledge and honour Almighty God.

Remember what Jesus said to the rejecting Jews, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:38-39)

The Bible tells us a primary truth; that has held good for observing people, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)

There is but one authority that knows sin like no other, that is capable of dealing with sin, hobbling it, bringing it under subjection, making it of no effect upon people lives.

And that authority is Almighty God.

To dishonour Almighty God, and reject him, is an admission of defeat, and the supine acceptance of hopelessness and eternal doom.

But in this, every human being has a choice.

So who's at fault.

Our accursed Adamic nature for one.

The creator of evil and sin, the man of perdition for another the Devil himself.

But amidst all the gloom and despondency, all the aches and pain and sorrow, God has seen it fit to stand with his believers and empower them to affirm like the Apostle Paul, "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Enough said.

Books by this author (non-fiction except indicated otherwise)

E-books Published by Amazon.com
If you do not have a Kindle then when you access the site, click on How Buying Works and you will see the FREE apps for Computer, Cell phone, etc Then click as appropriate.

(Please click on the appropriate book link or cut and paste in your URL)

STAND UP TO THE DEVIL (e-book)
Volume 1 You must first identify him
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BQVLSS

BASTARD: A STORY OF REDEMPTION(e-book fiction)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006OF3SD6

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD'S CLOCK (Hard copy)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002X78D16

THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (e-book)
Volume 1 Five tough facts to be faced
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YX5NSI

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD'S CLOCK (e-book)
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-630-9

Dr. Henderson Ward received his Doctor of Divinity in theology, with distinction, from Masters International School of Divinity, USA, where he is currently a post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Ward's career involved pastoring, evangelism, and teaching. Copyright 2017

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Dr. Henderson Ward

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer