The Blame Game

Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the Serpent. (Genesis 3) God brought judgment on them and all humanity because of their sin.

Cain killed Abel and then excused himself to God, saying, “Am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:9). When God judged Cain, he complained, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.” (Genesis 4:13)

Aaron made a golden calf idol and blamed the people for it. Then he concocted the story: the people gave him gold, he cast it into the fire, and out came this calf. (Exodus 32:24). Later, Aaron lost two of his sons because they offered “strange fire” (unauthorized fire) before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1-2).

God ordered King Saul to destroy the Amalekites and their flocks and herds completely. Instead, he spared the king of Amalek and the choicest animals for sacrifice. Saul told Samuel he had obeyed the voice of the Lord, “but the people took of the spoil.” Saul had refused the responsibilities of leadership and blamed the people. Samuel told Saul, “Thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.”  (1 Samuel 15).

Pilate listened to the charges of the Jewish leaders against Christ and knew that they wanted to crucify Him.  When they said, “Let him be crucified,” Pilate asked, “Why, what evil hath he done?”  When the crowd pressure overcame him, Pilate pleaded the ultimate “cop-out.”  He took water and washed his hands before the multitude, and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person.”  But he wasn’t. (Matthew 27)

Adam and Eve, Cain, Aaron, King Saul, and Pilate refused to take responsibility for their sin but blamed others instead. It took the repentant thief on the cross to demonstrate what should be done.

The unrepentant thief joined in the mockery when the crowds mocked and jeered at Jesus on the cross. But the repentant thief rebuked him. “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

THE BIG DIFFERENCE: The repentant thief was willing to accept responsibility for his sin and his just punishment. The other examples were content to shift the blame to someone else.

Did you know that you can’t be saved and have eternal life if you refuse to acknowledge your sin and sinfulness?

Jesus mentioned the tragic death of 18 on whom the tower of Siloam fell. He asked if these 18 were sinners greater than all others and then answered his own question. “I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:4-5) Repentance is a change of mind that results in a changed life. You have been living in sin and self-pleasure. Now, you change your mind, turn toward Christ, and follow him.

You, and you alone, are accountable to God for your sin. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12). Hebrews 9:27 states, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”  You can’t blame your parents, brothers or sisters, co-workers, fellow students, bosses, teachers, or anyone else for your sin. You are accountable and responsible to God for your sins.

But God offers a remedy for our sin-sick, wretched souls. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).

But knowing the above facts does not save you. You must accept God’s gift of love and receive Jesus as your Savior. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13). “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9, 10, 13).

Please note that this is an eternal transaction with the Eternal, holy God. There is nothing casual about this decision. If you are sincere about this, it will change the whole direction of your life. God, the Holy Spirit, comes into your body, soul, and spirit. You are no longer your own. You belong to Him.  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

If you are a born-again Christian, you also can be guilty of blaming someone else for your sins, problems, or “hang-ups.”  It’s time for you to grow up spiritually, confess your sin of blaming others, and take responsibility for your own life before God. The Scripture in Galatians 6:7-8 applies to Christians as well as non-Christians. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

If you sow the seeds of laziness, procrastination, self-pity, lax moral standards, neglect of the Bible and church, and many other sins, you will reap the inevitable sad results of your sin. Don’t blame others. If you need help, find a godly Christian to help you. But, by all means, deal with your sin NOW. Confess your sin to the Lord and to any persons you have wronged, and make things right. ” He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

This is Resurrection Week. Sunday is Easter. (April 20, 2025). There could be no better time to trust Christ, the Risen Savior, as your Savior. And for the Christian, it is time to make a fresh start, letting the Risen Christ be your Lord and Master!