Clearwater Community Baptist Church
Ezekiel 18:20 The person who sins is the one who will die. A son will not suffer for his father’s iniquity, and a father will not suffer for his son’s iniquity; the righteous person will be judged according to his righteousness, and the wicked person according to his wickedness.
I watched a documentary that depicted life within a prison. Certain prisoners were given more rights and privileges depending on how well they behaved and cooperated with the prison system. Of course, those that were given the least amount of trust were those that were active in their rebellion and expressing their hatred for their guards.
The difference between the two was not behaviour alone but also belief. The two types of prisoners held two things in common: first that they were both incarcerated and second that both could point to terrible abuses and neglect from their upbringing. The model prisoners took personal responsibility for their behaviour. That is to say in spite of their poor experiences in the past they did not blame their choices on other people. The rebellious and contentious prisoners, on the other hand, were quick to blame everyone else for their situation and their poor choices.
For those of us that have experienced the pain of abuse there is empathy from God. Such abuse may also explain our poor choices and negative action, however, no event or abuse ever excuses us from such behaviour. When we stand before God on the day of judgment we will stand alone, having no other person to blame for our actions.
If you have suffered abuse in your past you have my utmost sympathy. The beginning of that process of healing starts when we stop blaming others for our deficits and start taking responsibility for our actions, feelings and especially our pain.
