Blaming Others for Our Sins

Adam and Eve have eaten the forbidden fruit. They have lost their innocence. They are confronted by God. When Adam is asked if he has eaten what he shouldn't he replies, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." Did Adam just blame God for his sin?

That seems to be the method of many unrepentant people. They blame others for causing them to sin. Someone doesn't come to church so they blame the church for not checking on them. Someone commits adultery so she blames her husband for not giving her enough attention. Someone embezzles from his business and he blames the lack of controls which would have prevented him for doing so. Does this really make sense?

The repentant person admits that he has sinned. He admits that he has fallen short of God's glory. He admits that he is responsible. Yes, there are contributing factors but they did not force a person to sin. Rape is rape because a person is forced to commit the act. It is not a sin. Adultery is a sin because no one forces the person to commit adultery. Should we accept the explanations and give absolution because someone has a contributing factor to their sins?

It bothers me that people are doing that very thing. They are taking the responsibility for others sins. The church members are accepting the sin of a member because they did not stop that member from sinning. The spouse is saying he didn't spend enough time with his wife and takes responsibility for the affair. All the while people are quoting, "Judge not; lest ye be judged."

Let's admit it. There will be no change without repentance. There will be no repentance as long as others are blamed. There will be no change without going a different direction. The direction will not be changed as long as nothing has to be changed.

Newton's first law of motion states: "Unless acted upon by a net external force, a body, at rest, will remain at rest and a body, in motion, will remain in motion." Let's apply that to sinfulness. A person will remain in his sin unless responding to the Holy Spirit who will convict him of his sin. He confesses (says the same as God says about the sin in that he acknowledges that he needs repentance) and is cleansed from all unrighteousness.


Newton's second law of motion states: "If net external force on a body is zero, then its velocity remains constant." Applying this to sin. Sin remains constant if there is nothing changing the sin.

We can neither give the responsibility for our sins to others nor accept the responsibility for others' sins. Conviction, confession and repentance keeps our whole society from getting worse and worse. We just can't blame others for our sins.

Psalm 51:4 (NIV)
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.