“. . . confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. I and my father’s house have sinned.” Nehemiah 1:6
Nehemiah landed in an historical situation not of his own making. The people of God had been stuck in patterns of sin for centuries, the consequences of which landed on Nehemiah and his generation. But rather than blame others, he identified with them. He saw himself in them. He saw himself as responsible too. He owned up.
What a pathetic sinner Nehemiah must have been.
I have landed in a situation not of my own making either. But when I drive around Nashville and see a liberal church that disowns the Bible, it isn’t my problem. When I see a legalistic church that distorts the gospel of grace, again, it’s not my doing. When I see an adult book store or whatever else is obviously wrong with my city, nothing is ever my responsibility.
What a wonderful person I am.