The Blame Game

By Don Umphrey

Scriptural Citations from the NIV

“Why would God let this to happen to me?”

That question was asked by a man who had amassed tens of thousands of dollars in credit-card debt and was being hounded by his creditors.

But it wasn’t God who continually charged numerous items to his credit card that were far beyond his ability to pay for them.  And when the banks started calling to find out why he wasn’t paying his bills, he told them it was their fault for issuing him so much credit. 

There is nothing new about blaming God and other people when we face the negative consequences of our own actions.

It's Not My Parent’s Fault

I am sorry to say that I blamed my parents for my mounting problems that resulted from my daily drunkenness. I did this after following the advice of the psychologist who told me I had grown up in a dysfunctional home and all my problems were the fault of my mom and dad.

Is this the fault of the psychologist?  No, I am the one who turned his back on God to seek the advice of a so-called expert who was an atheist.  Gratefully, my parents forgave me and continued to help during some difficult times 

There’s nothing new about the blame game. It started in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and discovered they were naked. Then they started grabbing for the poison ivy to cover themselves.  Oooops, I mean fig leaves.

God Seeks Them Out

They hid, but God came looking.  “The Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Adam answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (Genesis 3:10). 

God replied, “ “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Genesis 3:11).

In response to God’s question is the first recorded instance of the blame game; Adam pointed his finger at both Eve and God.“The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12). 

Tied to Denial

The blame game is a means of people failing to take responsibility for their own actions. It also perpetuates the ongoing lies of  people who are in denial. It is also a lie about the true nature of loving God. 

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:13-15).

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.(Romans 2:1). 

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Copyright  2023 by Don Umphrey

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