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A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 


Without Excuse – 8 May 2006
By Mary T. Hoffman

Have you noticed how our society often tries to excuse an individual’s wrongdoing by placing blame on others (for example, parents) or on external circumstances? Scriptures, however, place responsibility on the wrongdoer’s shoulders: “…they are without excuse.” (We are without excuse.)

I think Romans 1:18-20 makes a lot of sense:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

~ New American Standard Bible

During the years when Frank was doing volunteer ministry in state correctional facilities, he had the opportunity to ask approximately 500 men if they realized, at the time of their breaking the law, that what they were doing was wrong. Every man answered “yes”; in every case, these inmates admitted that they knew they were doing something wrong, and heard that inner voice of the Holy Spirit telling them not to do it.

Notice that the above quoted scriptural passage applies to all people, and is not limited to believers in Christ. From this, I conclude that God holds those who profess to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior to an even higher standard. Is it any wonder that we are told: “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling….”? (Philippians 2:12)

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says:

13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.

14 "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”

~ New American Standard Bible

Go on to: Selective Psychopathology? – 9 May 2006
Return to: Knowledge and Wisdom – 7 May 2006
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