Many of you believe I will say the older generation, or maybe the younger generation. Some may think contemporary music, or traditional music. Some of you may think it is the preaching, or the lack of training, or any number of other things.

But, put quite simply, there is only 2 people we can blame for the entire mess that the Southern Baptist Church is in: YOU and ME!

That's right...which, when you think about those 2 words that says EVERYONE is to blame.

I admit it. At one time I would've said it was the music, or the preaching, or the previous generation and who knows what else I personally blamed it.

I know with out a shadow of a doubt that you have done the same thing.

Why do we do this?

We do this because it is seriously hard to accept the fact that the only person to blame is us. We want a scape goat. We want someone else to take the fall. At least that way we can feel better about ourselves.

But, the fact of the matter is this; until we accept the blame on ourselves, we will never move forward in fixing the problem.

It is just like an alcoholic at an AA meeting. Until they admit they have a problem and that they were the only ones responsible for it, they will never get better.

We have become so drunk with the idea that it couldn't possibly be our fault that the SBC is dying at a rapid rate. We fear the idea that, if we take a hard look at ourselves, the only one to blame is the one staring back in the mirror.

This is my call to you brother's and sister's in Christ: Own up.

We are all to blame for the position that our congregations are in. It isn't culture, it isn't our country, it isn't other denominations, it isn't Mark Driscoll, it isn't Calvinism, it isn't translations of the Bible, it isn't Sunday School material, it isn't the older generation, it isn't the younger generation, it isn't contemporary music, it isn't traditional music, it isn't the praise band, it isn't the choir, it isn't the drums, it isn't the organ, it isn't the building, it isn't pews, it isn't chairs, it isn't deaconship, it isn't eldership; whatever other excuse you can throw in here, throw it in because it isn't that one either.

Let's take a hard look at ourselves, and instead of passing the blame, accept it in ourselves and take steps to rectify it. That's called humility, and there seems to be a whole lot less of it these days.

So, what do you say? Get up right now, go look in the mirror, and apologize for what we've done to ourselves. Then, turn around and take the 2nd step to a new future; because "Congratulations" you've already taken the 1st step!