Johnny Did It!

There is a common practice that is perhaps as old as human nature—and almost as prevalent. When things go wrong, someone usually blames someone else. Perhaps every parent has had the experience of correcting a child who immediately protests that he didn’t start it—”Johnny did it.” This may be only a passing phase which in childhood is rather to be expected. But this practice of blaming everything onto someone else may become a matter of deep concern when it carries over into the more serious phases of life. When things go wrong in the perpetration of a crime, for example, we see the spectacle of former partners in crime pointing accusing fingers at each other. The drunkard blames those who offer him drink. They share the guilt, it is true; but something inside him is at fault also. Some blame the company they keep for the tragedies that befall them, which may also have a measure of truth in it—but why keep such company? When things go wrong publicly we often see the people responsible calling names and pointing fingers, each blaming others in the hope of keeping public displeasure from falling upon himself. But this business of scapeboat hunting goes yet further than that. All down through the centuries men have been inclined to blame the devil for a good many things for which they, themselves, are personally responsible. Pilate was neither the first nor the last man who has unsuccessfully attempted to wash his hands. And so the quest for a scapegoat goes on, as men seek to avoid responsibility for their own mistakes and faults. And at that day when all shall stand before the judgment bar of God, perhaps one of the most interesting things to observe will be the discounting of excuses, and the fixing of responsibility where it really belongs. But even then it would not be surprising if the devil himself would look around for someone else to sacrifice. The price of life, the price of freedom, the price of privilege and position is to face up to the facts, to be responsible for what goes right—or wrong, and not always absolve ourselves by saying: “Johnny did it!”