After WWI Germany was hailed before and held responsible by the Allied Powers. Her military and political leadership escaped personal trials. Nazi atrocities in WWII demanded that the individuals carrying out the dreaded dictates of Adolph Hitler be brought to trial.
In the 13 trials held in Nuremberg, Germany in 1945-1946, defense lawyers blamed Hitler for developing the genocide, not the underlings implementing the orders. The judges rejected that defense. In America today the “I’m not to blame, YOU are to blame”, has again become the mantra of lawbreakers. In New York, rioters in the wake of George Floyd’s death sued the city for what they considered police strong-arm tactics. The city paid several million to settle the lawsuit. In essence, the protectors declared their innocence in causing disturbances and law enforcement guilty for not treating their violence with “respect.” God has never been, is not now, nor ever will be impressed by sinners claiming their sin is the result of…you name it…but NOT their responsibility. C.S. Lewis correctly said that Christians now face a culture of “I’m not to blame” when accused of being a SINNER! Nevertheless, we ALL ARE to blame, and only those accepting it and repenting of it will be SAVED. All who deny their sin will be sent to Hell. True, the unsaved hate that emphasis. And far too many saved people are reluctant to declare it and STAND BY it. Businessman Roger Babson warned of a market crash in 1929. He predicted a drop of 80 points on Wall Street. A Business Journal labelled him a “scaremonger.” The New York Times attacked him for daring to discredit American prosperity. When the market crashed in October, 1929, it dropped 80 points in ONE day. By the end of that year the Stock Market had dropped 40 percent. Our Century, 1920-1930, p. 44. To warn those who don’t believe that God will hold accountable every person with unforgiven sin…believe what you want…it’s your privilege NOW. But when you die, only GOD’S WORD, not your opinion, will remain intact.
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Using Hebrews 5:8 as a touchstone, although Jesus was a son, "he learned obedience from what he suffered", did S.S. Seward or William P—Pushover—Jones prove a better father for their respective sons? Which father called his son to a maturity he didn't have? Demanded personal accountability he hadn't shown? Put him on notice to either discipline his excesses or find himself perpetually enslaved to them? Indeed, which encouraged maturity into manhood and contributed to perpetual childhood?
While S.S. Seward yanked his erring son into reality by refusing his continued residence at home, William P. thought to HELP his child by pampering him, considering his every request a command, thinking that never leaving a need unmet proved parental love. God the Father certainly didn't ease God the Son's way through life. From the age of 12 Jesus knew his destiny, knew the Cross awaited and increasingly felt the burden it imposed. It started in Satan's initial temptation to turn from the Cross and finished in Christ's horrifying experience in Gethsemane. See Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 12:50 and John 12:20-29 for the ever-increased stress Christ's crucifixion placed on him. He never diverted his gaze from Calvary, but always sensed the increasing stress of being separated from God while he became sin--became for us, in our place—II Corinthians 5:21—though NOT a sinner. The lesson every Christian needs to learn from this blog is: accept the pain, cost, rejection, loneliness of being a witness for Christ. Count it an honor when he imposes on us tasks, requirements and commands that get out of our comfort zone into obedience to his sacrificial life. He considered no price excessive to save us. How can we consider any cost in discipleship excessive in his service? Fini The last blog featured William H. Seward, as in Henry. This one chronicles another William—alias P, as in Pushover JONES. The writer will disclaim knowing anyone living or dead in the relationship described.
To cast the story in real time, William P. Jones had a son who also went to college, with dad paying the tuition. Let's call him I—for Irresponsible. To cushion the shock of being away from home, P gave son I a handsome amount of cash sufficient for several weeks if husbanded. However, before the first full weekend had passed, I called and asked P for MORE cash. When P requested a reason, I simply replied he spent all P had given him. Shades of William H and father Seward! Except S.S. Seward had a much stronger will and sense of values than William P. Jones. For P immediately authorized a generous bank draft sent to I. When a neighbor asked P why he didn't tell I to get a job, P replied that he couldn't do that for I was his only son. At that rate, the only son he could afford. Which was just as well. Limiting the number of children in that family proved the only way to keep spoiled-rotten children from entering society. End, Part II Two true stories first, one for this blog. Considering his son mature enough to handle the largesse, a father in 1816 gave him $1000 to pay for his entire college education—that sum the equivalent of $26,000 today. Off to Union College 20 miles away he went. Back home at the end of the school year he returned:
When, at the end of summer, father found his son pleading financial embarrassment as the reason he wouldn't return to school, he took the following steps:
Out the door into the big, wide, scary world he went. However, not to fear the worst from the father's severity and his son's capricious lifestyle. FOR...he
We know the man as William H (as in Henry) Seward. He chose parental toughness as a "WAKE-UP" call to pick up the pieces and forge a broken into a whole life. Never think that saying NO to anyone is a bad habit. Never think saying NO to a child is an offense to propriety. And never think calling an irresponsible person to accountability is a waste of time. End Part I |
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