by Barry Newton

I walked into the living room and dropped down onto the couch after a long day. From across the room a popular psychologist was busily chattering away through my tv set. My wife seemed to be engaged in listening to the program as she worked on a project. This was not how I was hoping the evening would unfold.

Just as I was planning my creative exit, something pleasantly surprised me. Essentially, this counselor acknowledged that injustices, neglect and other problems can leave their scars upon people, but people still are responsible for what they do! The psychologist then informed a guest on his show that although his guest had not enjoyed the advantage of a positive male role model, this did not relieve him from the responsibility of fulfilling his role as a husband. He then began to hammer away at what it meant to be a husband. This is not what I was expecting to hear from a popular psychologist. I do not know about his other shows, but he got this one right.

Consequences do exist. If we were raised in a dysfunctional family setting or within a homelife crippled by the spiritually impoverished air of secularism, chances are that as adults we will find ourselves grappling with trying to manage the damage in order to live as God intends. When strong godly role models are replaced by dysfunctional or inept ones, this can leave scars.*

In a world filled with abuse, neglect, self-centeredness, self-destructive patterns and every other form of sin, it is easy to blame others for our own inadequacies. The blame game began in the Garden of Eden and it seems to remain a favorite.

It is so easy to try to shirk the responsibility for our actions by blaming someone else. But have you noticed that Jesus never inquired into someone's past experiences as a guide for prescribing what standard should be fulfilled in their life? Jesus may have addressed how certain individuals should deal with specific issues of sin, but consistently Jesus called people to be accountable in living up to the very same standard.

While some might find it harder to do what is right, we are all responsible for whether we fulfill our various roles. If such thoughts make us angry, should not our anger be focused at the terribleness of sin and not at God? Knowing what is good for us, God's anger burns against sin.

In Jesus' parables, just because someone was a servant of the Master did not guarantee that he would hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

How do we get past the blame game? It is a matter of realizing that regardless of what might have happened in the past which can make today more difficult, ultimately I am responsible for what I choose to actually do.

*Because there are consequences for how children are raised, the importance of providing a strong godly nurturing environment for a child is irreplaceable. Every mother with young children who chooses to stay home for the purpose of raising those children should be highly praised. You may not bring in an income, but your work will have repercussions for decades to come.

by Mitchell Skelton

One beautiful, sunny afternoon two baseball teams met to play a game. Although it was expected to be a good game, one team was assured of victory. The teams dressed in their respective uniforms, the White Sox in white and the Black Sox in black. Game time approached and the Black Sox were ready, all of the team was there and ready to play, not at all discouraged by the fact that the best player to ever play the game was on the opposing team. The White Sox, however, were having some problems. Chris, the greatest player to ever play the game was ready to play but some of the other players were not moved by his enthusiasm. The first basemen as well as the third baseman were missing in action. The catcher finally showed up, seconds before game time. All three outfielders attended, yet two of them had not bothered to show up for practice in a while. Chris took the mound, yet had to pitch to the outfielder. He and the catcher were forced to switch positions because of the catcher's tardiness. Finally, the game started and the Black Sox showed that they came to play. Chris lived up to his billing. He covered first and third bases as well at the pitching duties. Outfield play was a disappointment with the tardy catcher and the two who had not bothered to practice. They were rusty and not at all able to withstand the barrage of hits that came their way. Chris was able to muster two outs on his own while the catcher turned outfielder and second baseman combined for the third. It was going to be a long game.

The church is much like a ball team. Christians, as the body of Christ, function like a team. In order to achieve victory, all the players must be practiced and ready come game time. When members of the team fail to play their part then the entire team suffers. Christians who shirk their responsibilities toward the team find themselves in danger of "losing their position". Yes, our team is assured victory. Chris or Christ, the greatest to ever play the game, is on our side. Those who are part of the team at the end of the game will be granted eternal life. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the church as the body of Christ and gives some factors we must consider.

We All Must Play Our Part

Just as the human body is made up of many parts that together make the whole, so too the body of Christ has many parts. "Now the body is not made up of one part but of many . . . in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body" (1 Cor. 12:14,18-20). Each member of the body of Christ must perform his God-given function. "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us" (Rom. 12:4—6a). Every member of the body must give their best effort in the area of service God has gifted to us. Just like our beloved White Sox, if the outfielder must play catcher then the team is not putting forth its best effort. Without each member doing their part, the body of Christ suffers.

We All Must Be in the Game

For the body of Christ to function effectively Christians must show up for practice. Personal and organized study prepares us for the game. "Be diligent (Study, KJV) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:14—17).

As important as study is for the Christian, if we fail to show up for the game then we are merely performing an exercise in futility. The game is not worship, as some suppose, but standing against sin and standing up for the Lord daily. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Eph. 6:10—13).

The most important key for victory is being on the team. Everyone is welcome to join the team (John 3:16,17). Those "in Christ" are on the team or part of the body. "Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection" (Romans 6:3—5).