eDevs: EMMDEV 2011-01-25 [Jeremiah's Journey] Scapegoat Theology

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

EMMDEV 2011-01-25 [Jeremiah's Journey] Scapegoat Theology

29 "In those days people will no longer say,
`The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge.'
30 Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes--his own teeth will be set on edge. Jeremiah31:29-30

Many people (many of them very well-meaning) have built what I call a "lopsided scapegoat theology" out of Exodus 20:5 which reads:
"for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me"

The lopsided theology is that if I suffer from arthritis or asthma or cancer it may well be because my great-great grandfather was involved in some occult activity that I didn't even know about. (Some people call these "bloodline curses.") It is a scapegoat theology that seeks to apportion blame in what is often the wrong place.

Here in Jeremiah (and Ezekiel 18:2-3) we are offered a valuable counter-balance: If sour grapes make our teeth ache, let's check our own teeth for holes before we look at Grandad's teeth!

Please note that I am not saying the Ex20:5 isn't true - but we shouldn't take it out of context or take it too far. Christians are very quick to apply it to themselves - but read it carefully: who is it is directed at? God says it is directed at "those who _hate_ me."

We know that there are legacies that can be passed down generations. Alcohol abuse, family violence and genetic defects can be passed down from parent to child. BUT there are some things that we must take responsibility for. AND there are some things that are simply the result of living in a broken world and we (and our forbears) have done nothing to "deserve" it.

Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel were making a very sad point: previous generations had made tragic mistakes, but even with the history lessons available to them, the current generations were doing the same and worse. Both prophets were emphasising personal responsibility. We are responsible for our walk with God.