So easy to pont the finger

One of the many aspects of living in Doncaster which I will miss when we leave is the opportunity to browse the Doncaster Wednesday market.  Being minister of a town centre church gives me opportunities to visit the market; the Wednesday market is a little different in that there are a variety of stalls selling second-hand and quirky items, and often a couple of second-hand bookstalls.  In advance of our move I am supposed to be getting rid of things like books, not buying them, but I can't resist a browse!

One market stall this morning had a lot of books.  As I was browsing, I noticed a copy of Margaret Thatcher's autobiography, "The Downing Street Years."  I wasn't altogether surprised that it hadn't been bought; with South Yorkshire being a very strong former mining area, Maggie is heartily disliked by many locals.  In fact there are those who still pin many of the nation's ills on Mrs Thatcher!


It seems that the world financial crisis and major troubles in the Eurozone have hardly been out of the media for years; now a major scandal has emerged from Barclays Bank, forcing Chief Executive Bob Diamond to resign (whatever the rights and wrongs of the case, I admire the way his daughter leapt to his defence!)  Bankers have become the number one target for those casting round for someone to blame (they seem to have taken over the position of number one targets of hate from politicians).

Whilst I fully agree that those who have done wrong should be held to account, it seems to me that it is so easy to point the finger.  We live in a blame culture, always seeming to look for a scapegoat (as long as it's not us).  As someone once pointed out, the problem with pointing the finger is that when we do so we find that three fingers are pointing back at us!


Jesus was involved in a finger pointing episode.  A woman caught in the act of adultery was brought before him, and Jesus was challenged to give an opinion on what should happen to her.  If he sided with the law (which said that she should be stoned to death) he would be accused of cruelty; if he didn't, he would be accused of breaking the law.  Jesus gave neither response, but instead challenged the onlookers with these words, "Let the person who is without sin throw the first stone".  Suddenly those who were so eager to condemn the sin of the woman found a finger pointing at their own sin.


Yes, let's fight for justice, and demand that those who have committed offences be brought to account.  But let's not be drawn into the blame game; not all bankers, or politicians or whatever group you like to name, are crooked or selfish.  As Jesus pointed out, not one of us is "without sin" (that's why he died for on the cross, so our sin can be dealt with).

St Paul puts it like this: 'Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ.'

Lord, help me to be less ready to point the finger at others and be drawn into the blame game; help me to recognise my own guilt; thank you that through Jesus I am set free from the penalty of sin.