12 Sins We Blame on Others…
Posted by Pastor Kurt | Filed under My Faith, Web Clips
The first man, caught in the first sin, turns to blame his wife. And he
extends the blame to God as well! He implies that he would have
remained innocent if God hadn’t put Eve in the garden with him.
The blame-shifting in the Garden continues today. Our proud hearts send
us desperately looking for someone else to point to every time we’re
confronted with our own sin. There must be someone else—our spouse,
sibling, parent, boss, co-worker, pastor, friend, or God, himself.
We are so desperate to justify ourselves that we become irrational. Here are 12 examples.
1. Anger
I wouldn’t lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along
with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more
considerate.
2) Impatience
I would be a very patient person if it weren’t for traffic jams and
long lines in the grocery store. If I didn’t have so many things to do,
and if the people around me weren’t so slow, I would never become
impatient!
3. Lust
I would have a pure mind if there weren’t so many sensual images in our culture.
4. Anxiety
I wouldn’t worry about the future if my life were just a little more secure—if I had more money, and no health problems.
5. Spiritual Apathy
My spiritual life would be so much more vibrant and I would struggle
with sin less if my small group were more encouraging, or if Sunday
school were more engaging, or if the music in the worship service were
more lively, or if the sermons were better.
6. Insubordination
If my parents/bosses/elders were godly leaders, then I would joyfully follow them.
7. A Critical Spirit
It’s not my fault that the people around me are ignorant and inexperienced.
8. Bitterness
If you knew what that person did to me, you would understand my bitterness. How could I forgive something like that?
9. Gluttony
My wife/husband/roommate/friend is a wonderful cook! The things they make are impossible to resist.
10. Gossip
It’s the people around me who start the conversations. There’s no
way to avoid hearing what others happen to say. And when others ask me
questions, I can’t avoid sharing what I know.
11. Self-Pity
I’ll never be happy, because my marriage/family/job/ministry is so difficult.
12. Selfishness
I would be more generous if we had more money.
Making excuses like this is arrogant and foolish. It’s a proud way of
trying to justify our actions and pacify our guilty consciences. And
it keeps us from humbling ourselves before God to repent of our sins and seek his forgiveness.
Consider James 1:13-15, which leaves us with no way of escaping our own
sin and guilt. We cannot blame God, for he “cannot be tempted with
evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
Instead, we have to accept the humbling truth that “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” This will end the blame game, and it will send us pleading for Christ’s mercy and grace.
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1281_12_Sins_We_Blame_on_Others/
Tags: sin
