To Explain Is To Excuse

Why did he do such a thing? What was she thinking!?! Whatever made you think you could....? (you fill in the rest, since we have all said or had it said to us).
We ask this question when something (usually bad) happens that shocks us. For some reason we think people should act according to a moral standard, while we refuse to accept the fact there is a moral standard. We teach our children there is no " absolute right or wrong", just "do what you want". We say each person must make choices based on what is "best for yourself". We teach selfishness and encourage rule breaking.
There seems to be an unspoken assumption that people should live according to the principles of conduct found in the Holy Bible. We expect people to live as Christians, yet deny and reject the surrender of self to Christ that is necessary to live up to those standards.
The idea of wickedness and sin is rejected as primitive and unworthy of consideration in these "enlightened" times. We may joke about how "the devil made me do it", but of course we say that is only a joke and not at all real.
So when a terrible act is done by a person, or several people, we look for an "explanation". We look at the background, the upbringing, the environment, the associates, anything and everything in an effort to explain. If we can explain it then we can excuse it.
That is the real problem. What we really are looking for is an excuse. Our approach is that people are basically good, and if given a choice, or a chance, will do good. So when they don't we look for an explanation that will excuse them, and by extension ourselves.
But there is no excuse. We are all evil. The only source of goodness is outside ourselves. The Bible says the only one good is God. It is only the grace of God that keeps wickedness in check. It is only the principles found in the words of Jesus, in the Bible, that have power to change us and keep us from destroying ourselves and everything else.
As the principles in the Bible are tossed aside as old fashioned, or ignored, we are left with no protection against the wickedness that we are subject to as sinners. We are left to the control of the Destroyer, the Liar, the Murderer. So we lie and murder and destroy.
There is only one choice. We either continue as we are, or we choose to yield to the grace of God and accept His power to overcome sin. It's an individual choice. Evil cannot be excused, or explained. It can only be overcome by accepting the life God offers. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and He is the only One who can. We must give up our life and accept His life. Yielding to Him, and only Him, gives freedom from the evil that controls us. Then we have the peace and joy that cannot be taken away.