Playing the Blame-Game: The devil didn’t make you do it
There’s a funny story my family likes to tell. We laugh every time we hear it. I think one of the reasons we find it amusing is because it reveals so much about the human nature inside each one of us.
Years ago, my eldest sister Marcy approached my sister Amanda (nine years younger than her and a young child at this point), and asked her if she had taken a piece of candy (that she wasn’t supposed to have). Amanda quickly denied it. And then Marcy asked her another question:
“Ok, well where did you put the wrapper?”
“Over there –“ Amanda’s hand went over her mouth as soon as she realized she’d been made - by her own admission, no less. But it was too late. The truth was out. There was nowhere to hide!
We humans will do just about anything to get our way. Even things we know are wrong. And when our selfish ambition lands us in hot water, we have to make a choice. Do we confess, or do we continue on the downward spiral of self-preservation?
Too often, we ignore, avoid, or deny any part we played that might bring negative consequences upon ourselves.
When bad things happen in our families, communities, or country, the last thing we’d ever do is look at ourselves as part of the problem. Our Hell-bound sin nature knee-jerks to the ever popular “blame game”.
Don’t believe me? Replay last year’s election debates. Or check out some opinion columns or videos from some of the mainstream news agencies as pundits discuss national and world events.
But it’s nothing new. In fact, it’s one of the oldest tactics in the book…and in THE Book.
Adam blamed Eve (and God for putting her in his space, it seems): “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it” (Genesis 3:12).
Eve blamed the serpent: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Genesis 3:13b).
As Flip Wilson famously joked, “The devil made me do it!”
Truth is, both Adam and Eve disobeyed. They were culpable, and they received the curse they deserved.
Yet God, in His great love and mercy, set in motion His plan to redeem fallen humankind. From that very moment (Genesis 3:15), He promised a coming victor, who would offer salvation from their very dismal state.
Interestingly, that salvation requires a person to do the very opposite of the “blame game”, and instead admit guilt - to recognize they are sin-stained, weary, in need of rescuing.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).
This is honest, personal responsibility that God recognizes and rewards.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The problems in our nation and world today are not caused by political parties, their leaders – or anyone else at all. They are caused by sin, and each one of us is a slave to such sin until we make a conscious decision to follow Jesus Christ and be set free from its bondage.
Hope begins with each one of us recognizing that the sin problem starts with our own heart. Then we are ready to turn to the One who can redeem and regenerate – give new life, make all things new.
Realizing that now will better prepare us for eternity, when the “blame game” won’t be an option. Our hearts and motives will be laid bare before the Lord and Judge, who sees all.
“For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
And:
“…God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).