Isaiah 66:4 English Standard Version

^4 “I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.”

The worst actions that I have taken in my life I did without thinking. I gave no second thought to my actions. It did not feel like a choice.

Giving into our base elements without regard for consequences is a matter of not learning basic social skills. How to live in a world that is violent does not mean one has to be violent. One needs to learn what causes violence and avoid doing things that stir up violence. Understanding our nature should help us control our nature. Then it becomes matter of choice.

What if we are not taught to control our nature by word nor example? Is that an excuse for giving in to our base nature?

Romans 2:1 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

Our base nature looks to blame others. “It isn’t my fault.” Pleading innocent does not make you innocent. At some point we must come to the conclusion that what we are doing isn’t working.

“I don’t want to be like this.” That was my salvation prayer. It did not take on all the elements of the sinner’s prayer because I had never heard the sinner’s prayer. I eventually got there but not until those words were received by God as a prayer. I was a sinner who didn’t know it. That was no excuse.

When will we stop making excuses for our actions?

I don’t know, I am not there yet, I still have my base nature.