Blame Shifting

Blame shifting is as old as Adam and Eve. After the fall, the man placed the blamed squarely on Eve's shoulder who in turned pointed her finger at the devil (Genesis 3:12-13).

Even children, we have a way of making blame shifting a fine art after we are caught doing something we were told not to do.

The most common expression when we didn't have someone to blame, "He (or She) made me do it". As if to say, this faceless, nameless individual physically forced me to disobey. What was I to do? I'm a victim of another person's disobedience. Truth be told, some of us wanted to do whatever we pleased simply because it was forbidden, off limits or prohibited. The other excuse, "you didn't tell me" as if to reason away something we instinctively knew was wrong from the start.

Sadly, some of us (including myself) at times have carried this behavior into adulthood which can have a terrible impact in relationships. Fingers are pointed, accusations fly and voices protest feigned innocence to justify sins committed against God and each other. He or she said this or that and that's why I did it. How was I to know when you don't talk to me anymore?

When we shift the burden of blame to God, we cross a dangerous line. Notice Adam and Eve shifted blame to each other, but never to God. Even the forked-tongue serpent was quiet though he had lots to say to Eve but nothing when God was present. This says a lot about the nature of blame shifting. When there is blame shifting, the burden of proof is never in proportion to the truth. We lie, twist and distort whatever we heard or what we wanted to hear to justify blaming another person other than ourselves until we are confronted by the truth.

Beloved, to be free from this sin of blame shifting and excusing our failures as a result of another person's mistakes, we must ask the Lord to reveal truth in the most inward parts.

Psalms 51:6 says, "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." When we allow the Word of God to settle deep in our hearts, it matters not what others tell us about their version of truth. Or our desire to tell our side of the truth. We know from the Scriptures, Christ is Truth, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17). God's truth will remain, the only authority, no one dares to blame.