I recently heard a news story of an 8 year old being removed from his home in Ohio because he weighs 200 lbs.  The report went on to explain that Ohio state officials are removing the child from the home because the mother was not doing enough to control the child's weight.  While I agree that a parent has a great deal of responsibility for the physical condition of an 8 year old child, I have to wonder what kind of message the Ohio officials are sending to the 8 year old boy.  Are we, in the form of government rule, reinforcing the idea that if you are overweight it must be the fault of some other person.  It may very well be that parenting skills or the lack thereof have had some impact in this situation.  However, at some point, personal responsibility comes into play.  And, teaching personal responsibility is equally important along with personal health issues in the young man's development.  If he is overweight at 20 years old, who's fault will it be?  If he is over weight at 30 . . . at 40 . . . at 50 . . . etc?

The larger issue here is personal responsibility in society as a whole.  We have become, for the most part, a society of blame shifters.  Many people find it impossible to admit fault in a given situation.  When fault is admitted, it often comes with explanation that attempts to shift at least some of the blame to some other person or situation.  This, by the way, is nothing new.  In the beginning, when Adam and Eve sinned, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent.  Adam even had the nerve to imply that somehow God was at fault.  "That woman you gave me. . ."  So the blame shifting game has always been around.  Now, however, we've taken the blame shifting game to new heights to the detriment of society.  If students aren't learning, it's the teacher's fault.  If homes are being foreclosed, it's the banker's fault.  If wages aren't rising, it's the boss's fault.  If people are getting fatter, it's McDonald's fault.  If people are getting poorer, it's the rich man's fault.  If you are a contestant on X Factor and you give a bad performance, it's your mentor's fault.

When this life is over, you and I and everyone who has ever lived will stand before the judgment seat and give an account of what was done and not done in this life.  If Jesus says, "I never knew you," will it be the televangelist's fault?  No one will stand there but you.  You will give an account for yourself and no excuses will be accepted.  Each of us is personally responsible before God to receive the free gift of salvation provided by shed blood of Jesus Christ.

No more excuses!

Alan L. Thomas <><