The Blame Game

(Princeton Union Eagle Article)

While reading about the fall of man in Genesis chapter three, I was struck by the “Blame Game”, Adam & Eve’s attempt to deflect culpability and deny responsibility.

God confronted Adam, his response was to blame his wife and God: “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

God confronted Eve, her response was to blame Satan: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

God doesn’t play the “Blame Game”, so He punished Satan, the woman and the man. However, he also began His work of grace in their lives as well (read the passage for further details).

Nothing’s changed.

Our deep-seated and nearly automatic reaction when confronted is to deflect and deny. We are not responsible, rather, it’s our parents’ fault – our spouse’s – our children’s – our school’s – our employer’s – our government’s – or even God’s.

But God will not play. He knows that this game leads to our eventual ruin. If we don’t accept responsibility, if we will not seek forgiveness, we will become less than we should be, defined by our problems, missing God’s abundant life. We will seek escape rather than resolution. We will become mired in shallow relationships, rather than moving through conflict to truly deep fellowship. If we avoid truth, we will end up self-deceived (while others will not be deceived).

Don’t run, stand, and listen! Allow God to show you who you really are, including all the weaknesses and sins, then allow Him to change you into the best you can become – through Jesus’ death, through faith, through God’s forgiveness and renewal.

May you have a great weekend!