Tag Archives: blaming others

Who… Me?

Whether you believe in one or not, God has created a melting pot of individuals who are just as different on the inside as the color of their skin.  Personalities range from those who enjoy going to the mall to people watch, others prefer to listen, asking questions instead of talking too much and the strong willed seek to express their opinions and point of view.  Meanwhile, the active can’t get enough time with their friends, the sloths are always looking for an excuse to rest and modern technology has made the masses co dependent on their computer, phone or television.  When confronted or asked to changes their ways of in 2014, many will respond, “Who, me?”

The memories of Adam and Eve has been passed down from generation to generation, entering our D.N.A. in the form of the sinful nature, Romans 3:9-12.  Thus, whenever you make a mistake or screw up, you have a blue print to follow, Genesis 3:12-13.  “The devil made me do it!”  “It’s her fault your honor, not mine!”  “If God didn’t introduce me to this person, I would have never done that!”  There are somethings in life you don’t have to learn, it just comes naturally like blaming others, failing to take responsibility for your actions and justifying what you did to escape punishment or minimize the consequences.  As a result, Reality Television is filled with examples of adults acting like little children who got their hand caught in the cookie jar, “Who me?”

For any avid sports fans, especially during this Bowl Season, NFL playoffs or March Madness, this same mindset is played out daily in front of a national audience.  When committing a penalty in football, a foul in basketball or taking a dive to draw attention to the referee is hockey and soccer, pouting faces say a thousand words.  While watching the replay on the jumbotron, I’m surprised more athletes don’t go into acting, pleading their innocence.  However, replays never lie and the guilty will be penalized or fined for their illegal play.  Maybe one of the games this weekend will include a player who actually puts up his hand, signaling, “my bad, I didn’t it!”  Despite this optimism, there will be crying, complaining and disbelief today, as the next guilty player will express body language which suggests, “Who me?”

by Jay Mankus

Why The World Is “Full of It.”

As a child, my father regularly used the expression “you’re full of it!” Whenever anyone in my house appeared to bend the truth, exaggerate a little or attempt to tell a whopper of a lie, he confronted them with these words.  While not 100% perfect, most of his inclinations were spot on, as one by one, my sisters and I were guilty as charged.  When you peal back the pages of history, this web of deception rises to the surface.

In the beginning, Satan introduced the world to questioning authority in Genesis 3:1.  Moments later, Eve taught individuals to be curious, going beyond the boundaries established by God, Genesis 2:16-17.  Adam modeled blaming others instead of taking responsibility for your actions, Genesis 3:12.  If this wasn’t enough, Cain illustrated denial in Genesis 4:9, Abraham mastered trusting in yourself instead of God (Genesis 12:10-13 & 20:1-2) and this nature was past on to his son Isaac in Genesis 26:7, grand children and so on.  Like catching a common cold, the sin of lying has become air born, influencing the hearts and minds of mankind, Romans 3:23.

Today, you can turn on any cable news network, then wait for someone to mislead a commentator, journalist or reporter.  At a moment’s notice, a politician will dodge a question, answer the part they want to and move on without any consequences.  Professional athletes like Lance Armstrong, A-rod and others in the future will hold a press conference, deny accusations only to be proven guilty later on.  It’s time for the world to come out of the closet and confess, “we’re full of sin!”  Only then, can you move on to the healing process, James 5:16.  May these words strike a cord, Hebrews 4:12, helping habitual liars make their way toward the road to recovery through Christ the Lord, Romans 7:24-25.

by Jay Mankus

All the Blame and So Little Thanks!

The older I become, the more I hear and see people blame God for every disaster, failure or setback they face in life.  Meanwhile, these same people take most of the credit for any accomplishment, success or victory they experience.  In other words, God has become the per-verbal punching bag as the center of most complaints, gripes and unanswered questions.

Have people ever considered that God created us to live forever?  Yet, when man and woman, in the person of Adam and Eve, chose to exercise their own freewill, the catalyst for destruction entered this earth.  Since Genesis 3, the world has been cursed with disease, famine, natural disasters and death.  One of the reasons why trials now exist in the lives of every human being is the world is going to hell!

Life is like an avalanche in which people try to dodge as many harmful objects as possible, yet we can’t outrun this onslaught of heartbreaks, tears and violence.  Yes, bad things do happen to good people and justice is often absent from our circumstances.  Nonetheless, there is a reason the Bible is the best selling book of all time.  James 1:18 says every good thing comes from our Father above.  Therefore, don’t fret over what you can’t control.  Rather, send a little praise and thanks God’s way, Philippians 4:8.  Then, you may not be as tempted to blame God like the media for every bad thing under the sun.

by Jay Mankus

Victim or Victory?

Victimization has been present since life began in Genesis 1.  King Solomon confirms this by his statement in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “There is nothing new under the sun.”  Blaming circumstances for failures or mistakes instead of taking personal responsibility for your actions has been a way of life since Genesis 3 when life began in the Garden of Eden.

Eve was the first to rationalize her lack of obedience by saying the devil made her do it, Genesis 3:13.  Meanwhile, Adam had the gall to blame God for his failure to follow God’s only law, “the woman you put here corrupted me”, Genesis 3:12.  Unfortunately, this pattern continues today as people deflect attention to a scapegoat or group of people, passing the buck and blame like modern politicians.  Has society embraced the role of playing the victim or are there a few people remaining who have the perseverance to be victorious in life?

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, the apostle Paul reveals a secret scar from his life.  According to Romans 7,  this spiritual wart appears to be similar to an addiction, bad habit or an area of Paul’s life that he lost control of, Romans 7:15.  Instead of being content with being a victim of his own flesh, Paul fights through this condition like an athlete training for a race, 1 Corinthians 9:27.  Victory is not found in an actual contest, but through a spiritual state of mind, Romans 7:24-25.  Therefore, if you are like Paul, needing to be set free from a harmful craving of your flesh, look up to Jesus who has the power to rescue you from your situation, 2 Peter 1:3-4, giving you everything you need in life in the form of the Holy Spirit!

by Jay Mankus