Sin causes us to be introspective and self-focused. In sin, we become “nearsighted and blind” (2 Peter 1:9), thinking only of ourselves. I remember during my time of bondage to food and laziness, everything was about me and food. Do you relate to this?
Next, notice how our first response, when caught in sin, is usually to blameshift. When God questioned Adam further, Adam responded:
Genesis 3:12 (NIV) “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Question 5. Adam blamed Eve, but who did he ultimately blame for his sin?
Adam said, "the woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." It's your fault, God! You gave me that woman!
I used to blame-shift in many ways, such as saying that it was not my fault that I was overweight; both my parents were obese, so I believed that's why I was. It is common to want to blame our struggles on something or someone else; we do this to relieve our guilt and responsibility to change, but blameshifting harms us. While genetics and health problems can contribute to our struggle and make our journey to a healthy weight more arduous, the truth is that we are overweight because we overeat food and don't exercise properly.
Friend, have you done this too? Made excuses and blamed others for your sin. If so, why not repent, agree with God about your sin, receive His love and grace, and move on from this place of pain?
David prayed to God, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge" (Psalm 51:4).
This honesty is what it is like to be clear-thinking rather than blame-shifting. To humble ourselves before the Lord, acknowledge our sins, and then believe and rejoice that Jesus took ownership of our sins and died for them. "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).
Isn't it amazing that the first Adam blamed his wife (Eve), but the Last Adam, Jesus Christ, took the blame for His wife (the Church)?
Question 6. Why is denying sin or blame-shifting counterproductive to finding freedom?
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Andy writes, "Because it never deals with the root of the problem. Self! If we deny or blame others it keeps self from having to admit there is a problem. We stay in that bondage until we admit, confess, and repent."
And Jodi G. helps us understand this so much better when she writes, "We can't or won't want to change if we always think it is someone else's fault. When we blame everyone else then we don't think we need to change or seek God. The important thing is to be led to the cross and if we deny that we sin or place the blame somewhere else, then we won't see the need for the cross and therefore cannot receive forgiveness."