Who's to Blame?

I recently tried to help a couple of families resolve a little scuffle between some boys just being boys.  After hearing from all the kids, it became clear that, while we weren't going to get the whole story from any of them, there was more than enough blame to go around.  The discouraging part was one of the parents who simply didn't seem willing to accept that his son could have been in the wrong.  Sadly, I think that attitude, and the impact it has on the son, is a major cause of the type of problem were trying to solve that night.

The whole thing sort of reminds me of Hosea 4 and 5.  Who's to blame for this mess Israel was in?  In 4:1-6, God lays the blame squarely on the Israelite people.  He even says in verse 4, "Don't try to blame your priests."  But then in verses 6-8, He says to the priests, "Wipe that smug look off your face.  It's your fault, too!"  Ultimately, in verse 9: "It will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds."  The priests failed to lead the people in God's way, and the people failed to hold the priests accountable to do so.  No finger-pointing allowed here.  (Notice that a similar theme plays out in 4:13-14 in the context of families.)

So who's to blame when God's people go astray today?  I think it's much the same. Everyone is individually accountable to God for their own behavior.  We inherit the blame game from Adam ("the woman you gave me…") and Eve ("the devil made me do it…"), but it doesn't get us off the hook any more than it did them.   Nevertheless, those in leadership do bear a special responsibility.  Pastors, teachers, fathers…  these verses come to mind:

• 1 Peter 5:1-4
• James 3:1
• Ephesians 6:4

Lord, help me to stay true to You as a follower and a leader… and to help those who follow me to do the same.

By the way… One of my favorite verses in Hosea is 4:12 - "They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood."  Well, what did you expect?!?