Nothing to Blame

John 9:1-5

 

1. We are still in shock by the Virginia Tech tragedy. The killer was very angry to so many people around him and blamed them for his unhappy life. Why did it happen? Whose responsibility? Some blamed school officials, police, or mental hospital. Some blamed gun culture of America, violent mass culture, immigration policy, or even God. However, I appreciate American people who did not blame his parents or Korean people in general.

2. But humans are easy to blame somebody for their own failure. In fact, our first parents, Adam and Eve blamed other for their failure to obey God. When God asked Adam why he ate the forbidden fruit, he blamed his wife and even God: “The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”(Gen 3.11) When God asked Eve the same question, she blamed the serpent: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”(12) They did not answer responsibly. Even if Eve gave the fruit to him, Adam was able to say No and he had to act so. Even if the serpent deceived her, Eve was able to say No and she had to act so. Even after their disobedience, they did not recognize their sin and repent to God. So God punished them and the human race they represented. Regrettably, we repeat this irresponsible behavior.

3. Especially our contemporaries including ourselves are so used to blame others for our failure. Modern men are so proud to have a scientific mind to reason anything by the principle of cause and effect, without recognizing the limited applicability of human reason. Even in Jesus’ time they were used to reason anything to find the cause to blame. When His disciples saw “a man blind from birth”, they asked Jesus what caused this: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”(2) They had wrong presupposition that being blind is the punishment of sin to be blamed for. Therefore, some sinner must be responsible for this punishment. But Jesus’ answer was totally different than they expected: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”(3)

4. Do you blame anybody or anything for your failure or unhappiness? Do you blame your parents? Do you blame your spouse? Do you blame your children? Do you blame your race? Do you blame your enemy? Do you blame your time or society? Or, do you blame fortune or even God? If you blame somebody or something, you make a serious mistake.

5. Why is blaming very serious sin and fundamental problem? First, it makes you selfish more and more that paralyzes your fair humanity. You always defend and justify yourself, while you blame others. Even as a Christian you do not feel guilty, become hardened, and lose any genuine repentance. You become blind more and more. It is far worse than physical blindness. Then, we will be angry always to somebody or something. Our life will be dissatisfactory and unhappy, blaming others. We have to accept our responsibility and even punishment for our failure, not blaming everything for something or somebody else. You think it reasonable, but it is not so, because you make contradiction that there must be some outside cause for your failure but no cause for your success. How unreasonable and selfish it is! It is worsening your selfish ego and poisoning your good humanity including healthy emotion system. At last, you will be totally blind, hardened, and isolated from all including your close people.

6. Second, it makes you lose the healthy and responsible perspective on your life and the opportunity to improve yourself creatively and positively respond to the life challenges. We will be pessimistic on life with full of self-pity. But life is the calling of God. We are born differently and God leads us through challenging atmospheres to fulfill our calling. Most of them are neither easy nor desirable for us, because they are given for our progress and contribution for others. God often leads us through the valley of the shadow of death, the ways and atmospheres we don’t like and plan. But because of them, we make progress and contribution. Of course, God will count the difficulty of our situation, but He wants our best response to those situations positively and according to His direction to achieve His Kingdom of love. You have such ability if you stop to blame others and welcome any challenge as God-given opportunity. Many simply want good atmosphere and condition, but God does not give higher challenge to those who cannot manage even a small and easy challenge. Thank God for any people or atmosphere or condition because they are your calling and opportunity. If you meet some hardship, cheer up for God recognized your ability. The Bible says that God does not give any challenge that one cannot handle: “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”(1Cor 10.13)

7. Christians should not blame anything to anybody. They are God-given opportunity however hard they are. Jesus stopped His disciples’ blaming and taught them how to appreciate human challenges: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”(3) Life is the field where the work of God is displayed. Do not be disappointed or intimidated in any situation. If you are trained well, you can handle harder challenges. Now is the opportunity! Now is the challenge! Jesus said to his disciples who were used to blaming game: “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”(4) Yes, when we finish our life here, our opportunity ends. Jesus said that “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(5) We are his disciples and we are also the light of the world to shine. With a shining face and bright mind, we have to light the world. It is not right for us to be dark in face and mind. In this sinful world of darkness to blame others, we have to stop such a tragic, negative and dark habit of blaming. Wherever we are present, we have to interpret those situations positively as God’s gracious challenge and creatively solve the situation brightly. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not blame anybody or anything in any suffering and even cruel death on the cross. He did not blame even Roman soldiers and His enemies. In the given situation and calling, He did His best and achieved our salvation! Be His good disciples and always think “What Jesus Would Do” in your situation! If you try to imitate Him, our Lord will give you the heavenly peace of mind and enough ability to handle those situations! Then, we too will achieve His holy way of life to positively welcome any challenge, stormy or peaceful! Amen.