Affluenza by Murry Palmatier
I am always amazed at the end of every year at the words that have entered our vocabulary over the previous twelve months. Often, the newly-accepted words deal largely with technological advancements. However, in 2015, there was one word that captured my attention, and for all of the wrong reasons – “affluenza”.
In June 2013, Ethan Couch was a 16 year-old from near Fort Worth, TX. Driving with a restricted license at a high rate of speed, young Ethan lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a group of people who were standing near a broken-down vehicle, killing the stranded driver and three people who stopped to help him.
Inexplicably, the judge accepted the defense offered up by Ethan’s lawyer that has given us this new excuse – I mean, word – “affluenza”. Blending the words “influenza” and “affluence”, affluenza is the inability to understand the consequences of one’s actions because of financial privilege. Ethan Couch received 10 years’ probation and long-term therapy because the judge believed that he had not been properly taught the difference between right and wrong.
The “not me” defense, made famous in Bil Keane’s Family Circus comic strip years ago, originated in the Garden of Eden and can be found in Genesis 3. After buying into the lies of the serpent, Eve ate of the forbidden tree and offered some of its fruit to Adam, who also willingly ate. When God called them out on it, fingers pointed everywhere but at themselves. Adam blamed Eve, who then blamed the serpent. God would have none of it, and punished all three of the parties involved (Genesis 3:11-19).
Among the many lessons Paul conveyed in his letter to the Church in Rome was that of personal accountability. One of the cornerstones of the Christian faith is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Romans 4:25 tells us that He died specifically for our sins. When we repent and accept that sacrifice, it demands that we take ownership of our actions. We need to realize that absent of God, our minds are “enmity (hostile or opposed to) against God” (Romans 8:7). In discussing our interaction with others, Paul continues in Romans 14:10-12: “Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God’. So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.”
As society continues to move further away from God, pay attention to subtle changes. Affluenza may sound like a justifiable new defense of a more enlightened generation, but it is not new and it is not right. Affluenza is simply part of a bigger problem plaguing our society – blaming others and not accepting responsibility for our actions.
We can either make excuses for our actions or stand up and own them. Eventually, all people will need to give a personal account of their choices to God – why not start now and begin down your road to repentance.
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