“I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong and there is no one else responsible for my sins…. I am responsible. And if I want to find the person who should be held accountable for my sins, honestly I don’t have to go any farther than the mirror. It is me. It is me and me alone.” This is a portion of the statement former presidential candidate, John Edwards, gave after his trial for misuse of campaign funds to cover up his extramarital affair. Despite all the wrong and sin he did, it was at least refreshing to hear someone say that only he or she was to blame.
Every day the news is filled with stories of people trying to find someone to blame for their failure. Just this week the mayor of San Diego resigned facing accusations of sexual harassment by 18 women. In contrast to Edwards, the former mayor said in his resignation speech, “It was the media’s fault. It was the conservative business establishment’s fault. It was the fault of all my political enemies.” Everybody was to blame for his resignation, except him.
Since the Garden of Eden, humans have blamed their failures on someone or something other than themselves. Adam and Eve made excuses hoping to avoid personal responsibility. If Adam could transfer the blame to Eve, he would not look so bad. If Eve could blame the serpent, she would appear an innocent victim. Adam not only blamed his wife, he blamed God for providing him with Eve, the woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree (Gen. 3:12). Eve tried excusing her guilt for eating the forbidden fruit telling God, It was the serpent. He tricked me, and I ate (Gen 3:13).
Excusing our sin by blaming others is self-deceptive. Until we see and acknowledge the true source of our transgression—me, myself, and I— there is no hope for change. If I think someone else is the cause, then I will not see my personal need to do anything. Any recovery program begins by telling the addict that the first step of change is admitting you have a problem. The addicts I have known always confirmed that taking responsibility for their own actions was the hardest step. When one admits they have a problem, they are accepting responsibility and saying, “it’s my fault, and I am to blame. I must change.”
I have to wonder what went through the minds of Adam and Eve as they hid and waited for God. Maybe they thought God did not see what they had done. Or maybe they reasoned, if they could transfer the blame, the LORD would understand it really was not their fault. When God called out to Adam, Where are you? (Gen 3:9), the LORD was not seeking information for Himself. Rather, He wanted Adam and Eve to consider their current spiritual status. Some advocate that grace began in the New Testament. However, God’s grace is evident here in the beginning. God did not destroy man and start over. He provided the means to cover their nakedness and shame caused by disobedience. This was a type of what Jesus would accomplish with His death and resurrection.
When we try and hid or blame others for our sin, we are deceiving ourselves. John wrote, If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 Jn 1:8). Now that Christ’s sacrifice is complete, we have no reason to blame others. John continues, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (verse 9). If we sin, we need not fear and begin defending ourselves, or blaming others. Note the first step is confession. When we confess, we have assumed responsibility for our sin. We no longer blame someone else. We no longer see ourselves as a victim.
I can admit it is my fault I lost my tempter, not that annoying co-worker; it is my fault I am bitter, no matter what someone did to me; it is my fault I was fired, not that my boss did not like me; it is my fault I lusted, not because there was so much temptation; and it is my fault that I am not more spiritually mature, not the poor preaching of my pastor. This list could continue endlessly. Where do you begin experiencing God’s peace and joy in life? Find a mirror with no one else around, stare at the person looking back, point your finger, and admit he or she is to blame and it is your fault. Then confess your sins and experience His forgiveness and cleansing.
My Bible College training was in an institution, which taught after salvation and sanctification a person would no longer sin. Having little biblical background, I believed this incorrect doctrine. Before I finally understood that was not what scripture taught, I had many frustrating years. If you believe sin has been eradicated in your life, then when you do fail, you must either cover it up or transfer the blame. By doing this, the guilt and burden of sin loads you down and prevents any spiritual growth. God already sees who we are. He knows every sin we think or commit regardless of all our efforts to hide it or to blame others. There is none righteous, not even one . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:10, 23). He knows, so why not confess to Him and receive forgiveness.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
It is your fault, but you can take responsibility because Jesus took the guilt and paid the penalty for sin. Confess your sin because He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.