Do you think christianity takes away personal responsibility?

Question

I can only ask from personal experience, ie if a moral wrong is committed satan's influence will be blamed and not that persons own character. Is it not an excuse? IMPORTANT Please respond with your own thought and not in reiterated biblical verses. It genuinely interests me how individual christians view this.

OK I'll elaborate a little about my own personal experience........I was brought up for the majority of my childhood by a single mum who was a humanist and taught me to think and question and not just accept. When I was 12 she converted to christianity, at which point I was becoming interested in boys, natural changes etc, I was told this was because I had a demon of lust in me, I was told she loved jesus more than any other and that included me, through out my teens if I questioned her faith I was told that it wasn't me speaking but Satan through me, and to top it all.... any time I achieved anything, sports, grades etc I was told by her that it was because she had prayed for God's help in what ever it was, and to always give him credit. I grew up with little self esteem and no self value.

As a result, in my 30's, I am now an atheist, many other things happened throughout my life and i feel my mother replaced the responsibility of parenthood with a doctrine.

And with the references from the bible she used to quote to qualify her statements, to me it seems that this doctrine supports this type of shunning responsibility.

I'm gobsmacked at the number of answers that have been hidden due to low votes, sorry Denver23, Ariel, Rosie G, Andrew, Informer dude.

Hhmmmm maybe my next question should be about christianity and censorship.................

Answer 1

Most certainly it does. Religion allows individuals to do despicable things in the name of their god, and feel self-righteous about it.

History is full of examples of monstrous deeds done in the name of a diety to other human beings. I am most certainly not religious myself, but from a religious family, and know from personal experience how destructive religion can be.

Answer 2

True faith in Jesus does not take away personal responsibility, rather it adds to personal responsibility a responsibility to the Creator, God.
There is a degree to which we acknowledge that Satan has an influence on people. But we are as Christ followers to shun that influence and turn to God. This to me is at the highest end of personal responsibility. It means that it is up to me to decide whether my life will be aligned with God's plan and His will, or whether I will go about my life living under my own rules, and be subject to the influence of Satan.

Superficially it can appear to some that we are at times avoiding personal responsibility, but a more in depth look will reveal that for most who profess faith in Jesus, it is much more of a cooperative effort between ourselves and the one to whom we pledge our loyalty and our lives.

With regard to that love for Jesus being above all else. I used to be very confused by that very thing. And I do not know that I can explain it in such a small space, as I have already written a novella as it is.
Some other time, or you may e-mail me and I will do my best to help you make sense of this.
Is your mother still a believer?

Answer 3

No Christianity does not take away personal responsibility. As for the idea of demonds making us do something wrong, well that is an excuse. OK the church says that we are tempted to do wrong by the devil, but We all have a chose of doing what is right or wrong, its what we call Morrals and is a part of human nature, I know that some would say that its God moving in us that helps us see right from wrong, which is fair enough, but in the end you are responcible for your actions christian or not, and if you went to a court of law because you stole from someone or killed a person, and you said that it was because of the devil tempting you, you would still be locked away under the Mental Health laws, for the protection of yourself & others as they would see you as a person with a mental illness.

Answer 4

We are asked to work at becoming more like Jesus but the Bible never says we become perfect instantly, it's like a work in progress. Certainly our old character flaws have an influence on our behaviour, but these can be changed over time if we seek the Lord's help and listen to the voice of truth, instead of the voice of the father of lies. We have a choice, it's not all satan's fault.

Answer 5

Growing up with Christian background I honestly must say that I never witnessed this type of thinking: "if a moral wrong is committed satan's influence will be blamed and not that persons own character."

If anything, Christians are almost too self-effacing. Or at least they're supposed to be. Most Christians blame themselves for a majority of the problems in their lives.

Answer 6

I think it gives you more responsibility, or at least the realization of it. The Bible gives a very clear right and wrong, where our world and schools teach that it's up to you. I had a teacher tell me there is no truth. If there is no truth then it's all relative and I can make up my own mind. What if I didn't feel bad about stealing? Does that make it OK? The Bible lays down the rules and there is no gray area to get lost in.

Answer 7

Definitely not, if anything, we are more accountable for our actions because we know the Truth.
Where did you get that satan will be blamed for what we decide to or not to do.
Jesus shows us many ways to overcome the evil one!
And we All have to stand before God and give account?
In Hebrews it says that the truth of good and evil are written on our heart, so we already know!
And as we grow and learn in Him, more is expected of us!*
Thanks for the question and I hope thast you gather information from these answers that is valuable to you and helps you to understand*

Answer 8

We, as human beings have to choose between right and wrong...if I am doing something that's wrong I cannot blame satan (like Adam or Eve in the garden!) I know the difference between good and bad so ...it's not ok if I'm thinking that it's not my mistake. I have to pray to have a clear mind (nowadays there are a lot of dark forces fighting for the supremacy of my mind and your mind...), to take good care of what am I feeding my soul with ...God takes care of us IF we really want Him to do it; He doesn't force you or me like satan that enters without knocking.

May God help us all be Light for those around!

Answer 9

Jesus gave us ALL an instruction;
(Matthew 28:19-20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

The scripture does not limit this to the religious leaders.
Its meant for all of us.

Answer 10

No, not at all. You are responsible for your actions and your response to the word of God (Bible).

We get some Divine help through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ to overcome, to change and to be forgiven, when we fail.

This works only together with genuine repentance. So there will always be personal resposibility.

Answer 11

Not really, even if a Christian is tempted by Satan, it's still our choice to give into temptation or resist it.

From my reading of the Bible, it's quite clear that God expects us to take personal responsibility for our actions, no excuses are accepted.