The Blame Game

Our initial reaction to a ministry mishap may be to blame it on the devil or conclude that the Lord is making a public example of someone for wrongdoing. It is rarely expected that a dancer will get injured during ministry or that the backdrop on a stage will come crashing down while dancing. In life, things happen. We must remain prayerful and remember that wisdom is many times displayed by what we do not say...

If we have ever been in a situation where we have witnessed a dancer slip or fall, we understand that it can be embarrasing and bruise the ego. If we have found ourselves in a slippery situation, we may also wonder what it is that we might have done wrong or why the Lord did not shield us from a public faux pas. On the other hand, when the CD skips, lights malfunction, garments get caught, props fail to function properly or any other distraction occurs, we may want to "blame it on the devil." While some of instances of spiritual involvement may be accurate, we must always remember that when human hands get involved with the things of God, there are bound to be some mistakes.

A tendency to be over-spiritual about everything is to be unrealistic. At the same time, we know that God is not mocked and that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. As part of our ministry preparation time, we should seek the Lord in prayer and ask Him to protect all of the elements involved in the dance. While we can prevent many natural distractions by using clean CDs, performing safety checks, or scheduling sufficient practice time for proper movement execution, in the end we can only pray that God's will be done.

Proverbs 11:5 (NKJV)
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

Proverbs 28:18 (NKJV)
Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, but he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

1 Peter 2:19-21 (NKJV)
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps

Jude 1:24-25 (NKJV)
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.