The Weekly Encourager – June 9, 2016 – Responsibility

This week, as usual, I have too many topics in my head! There have been many thought-provoking news stories about which I could write whole chapters, but here's one theme that keeps coming up: responsibility.

A student athlete at a prestigious university rapes an unconscious girl and blames it on drinking. His father minimizes his son's actions and gets the sentence reduced to a laughable slap on the wrist. A politician routinely insults people of other religious beliefs, races, and ethnic backgrounds, then tries to backtrack by admiring their food. Another politician sets up a private communication system to avoid oversight and accountability to the people she has sworn to serve, then lies to cover her tracks. Good Housekeeping magazine, that denizen of dentist's offices, reports that some older married couples are now “swinging” with other married couples to keep things interesting. The article likens this breach of marriage vows to going on a cruise or eating out. Seriously? How is that “good housekeeping?” Closer to home, friends confide that their spouses have been unfaithful and lying about it for years. Everywhere we look, people are trying to blame circumstances for their sin. Don't they understand that we can see right through it?

The Bible says, “let your yes be yes and your no be no.” In other words, be accountable. Let your actions match your words. “Put off lying and speak truth to one another.” Habitual liars hurt themselves and others, and God promises that He will judge them. You will not get away with evil deeds done in secret, but your deeds will be “shouted from the housetops.” You can't hide from God.

The father whose son was a rapist needs to sincerely apologize to the girl and her family, and to see that his son is punished in such a way that he never repeats the behavior. The rapist needs to admit his fault and be willing to suffer in order to ease some of the girl's suffering. The lack of sorrow for the error pours salt on the victim's wounds.* The politicians need to admit their mistakes and seek to correct them going forward. Their words and actions must reveal regret, not shifting of blame. The magazine needs to return to first principles and actually help marriages, not destroy them. The cheating spouse should offer proof that they have broken off all affairs and closed all secret accounts. They should demonstrate sincere sorrow and a desire to change, along with renewed loyalty to their rightful spouse. They must not blame anyone else for their problems. They should seek godly counsel and spend much time in prayer to the Lord.

I wish people would just take responsibility! Taking responsibility means initiating corrective behavior. The responsible person speaks the truth, even when it's difficult. He acts with honor, even when it hurts. When he makes a mistake (and we all do), he takes the first steps toward fixing the problem himself; he does not wait to be caught by others. He does not need to be confronted or cajoled. He wants to be a better person. I have seen how God blesses the honorable person with health and happiness.

Responsibility begins at home; let's all renew our commitment to do right by others. And where we have failed, let's confess our sin to the Lord, knowing that He will forgive all who truly repent. “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” - Isaiah 55:6-7

God is faithful,
j

*I am a victim of sexual assault, and I can tell you it is NOT over after 20 minutes. It changes your life in ways I never could have imagined. It has taken decades for me to begin to heal. Now I try to use my experience to help others. I am so proud of the young woman who is brave enough to speak out! Now I hope and pray that everyone listens.