Back in the early 1970’s, Flip Wilson made us all laugh when he claimed, “The devil made me do it!” His TV show was funny and his shtick was brilliant; he took something that was common to all of us and turned it into comedy. The truth is, we’re all guilty of pointing our finger at someone or something and quick to deflect the blame away from ourselves; it’s in our nature. Flip made light of blaming the devil for everything, and made a good living at it for a while. Eventually, like most TV shows, the ratings went down and the show was canceled.

While Flip Wilson’s TV show may have been short lived, “The Blame Game” is actually the longest running “game” in history. We’ve all have had staring rolls in it at some point in our lives; some to a greater or lesser degree and whether we’re willing to admit it or not. Here’s a recap of episode #1

Blame Game Episode #1 🎬

Starring: Adam and Eve

Setting: The Garden of Eden

Author: Moses (Inspired by God)

Synopsis: In Genesis 3, God asked Adam, “Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Adam blames Eve.

Eve blames the serpent.

And thus began the first episode of “The Blame Game”

The Blame Game typically begins in our own lives when we as little children, blame anybody and anything to avoid admitting we’ve done something wrong! It’s very natural and sometimes comical to see a child doing this but it’s the wise parent who let’s the child know early on that they know the truth, guides them toward admitting they’ve done wrong, and punishes them in an age appropriate way if warranted.

The Blame Game may become a little more complicated as we grow up, but nevertheless it’s still the same old game. In my own life, I went through various traumas when I was young. For many years I saw myself as a victim, at first unconsciously and then later more consciously. The tricky part about being a victim is that there is a perpetrator to rightfully blame but it becomes problematic if you then try to justify your own sinful behavior because you were a victim. It’s very convenient and so much easier to blame someone or something for the sin in your own life. Not to take away from the fact that I was a victim, but, and more importantly, it really wasn’t until I saw myself as a sinner too, that I began growing in my Christian life.

But each person is tempted

when he is lured and enticed

by his own desire.

James 1:14

Owning up to the sin on my life not only put my opinion of myself in proper perspective but it also lead me to a clearer concept of forgiveness. We’re all sinners in need of a Savior.

Plain and simple, we are responsible for the choices that we make. Not other people. If you’re blaming your bad choices and your bad behavior on other people, simply put, you’re wrong. Own up to the sin in your life, and if you’ve never done this yet, there’s no better time than the present. God is a loving Father, who waits patiently for you to turn to Him in repentance and faith.

If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9