Who Are You Going To Blame

Who are you going to blame?

Ezekiel 18:2-4

I. Someone else is always to blame.

A. Our families.

1) De Loney children play "pass the buck."

2) Ezekiel - our fathers sinned, we get the aftertaste.

18:2-4

2. What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? (the children’s mouths pucker)

3. As surely as I live, declares the Soverign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

4. For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

a) Scripture Appears to be complaint about God’s

unfairness.

1> Our parents sinned, so why should we suffer?

2> The Israelites actually took comfort in this proverb

because they thought it got them off the hook.

b) The prophet Ezekiel says they sin just as much as

their parents, and so properly share the blame.

In Discipleship Journal, Don McCullough wrote: "John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league baseball team who was so disgusted with his center fielder’s performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed the position himself. The first ball that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. The next one was a high fly ball, which he lost in the glare of the sun--until it bounced off his forehead. The third was a hard line drive that he charged with outstretched arms; unfortunately, it flew between is hands and smacked his eye. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted. ’You idiot! You’ve got center field so messed up that even I can’t do a thing with it!

B. Our chromosomes.

1) Some say that Alcoholism is due to a genetic

sequence.

2) Homosexuality is said to have a genetic basis, or

to be due to a part of the brain called the

hypothalamus.

3) Fat may be due to another genetic sequence, not ice

cream.

4) BLAME THE MIRROR...

for what you see?

Honey if a donkey looks in the mirror, he need not

expect to see a prophet’s reflection. Mirror,

mirror on the wall, you better say what I expect.

C. Our society.

1) Teachers are expected to be social workers, and held

accountable for results. Sue if kids can’t read.

2) The government makes a handy villain. It does

nothing right.

II. Someone else must get me out of this

mess.

A. Parents are to bail us out, no questions asked.

B. Technology is a great cure-all.

A few years ago Charles Swindoll wrote about how we expect science to solve all our personal problems.

He said we are always awaiting the new magical pill that will enable us to eat all the fattening food we want, and not gain weight.

In our minds, at least, technology is always on the verge of liberating us from personal discipline and responsibility.

Only it never does and it never will.

C. EXCUSE IT...

REMOVE BLAME, exempt me, justify,

1. Please release me.

2. Not correct it...

3. Explain away ... rationalize.

a. Master I bought a piece of land? ... you’ve

already seen the land.

b. I purchased a new tractor? Oxen? ... you’ve

already tried the vehicle.

c. I just got married? ... Move the date forward or

backward... Classes of excuses...

A. HIDE ...

to put out of sight, conceal, keep secret, evade,

JUST BURY YOUR BROTHER.... AM I HIS KEEPER?

You may have the body buried, but just because

things may be out of your sight and memory does not

mean God can’t see.

Concealed behaviors by nature expose a danger.

B. COVER-UP ...

Let’s mask it...To wear a mask does not change who

you are? Can you disguise yourself that your Mother

does not know you? Can covering up things protect

you? Are you playing games? Is life a masquerade?

Can we disguise our true character and intentions?

A skunk may say, I am getting a bad rap,but he

still stinks

C. God will do in a pinch. He becomes a fire

department.

1) We expect God to give us money, save our marriage,

make us happy, and then we might believe in Him.

2) It is a common attitude. One Ledgewoodian told me:

"I prayed to stop smoking, and God didn’t take

the desire away. He didn’t take away my desire

to gamble, and he hasn’t brought back my wife.

Religion doesn’t work."

3) God isn’t magical. He works through our obedience.

III. Take charge of your life.

A. We believe people are accountable for their

actions.

Bed mattresses in America used to be filled with a stuffing of corn shucks. Each year it was the children’s job to refill the family’s bed mattresses.