The Pain of Conviction
“Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.” I Kings 18:17-18
Here is the classic "blame the messenger" or actually blame-shifting, as Ahab frames Elijah as the troubler of Israel rather than the one who is simply declaring God's judgment against Ahab's idolatry. Blame-shifting is an evasive tactic where someone redirects responsibility for their actions onto another person in an attempt to make the target feel guilty or ashamed. Blame-shifting feels so effortless to us because it is part of the fallen nature, yet it is extremely dangerous as it stops all true repentance. It turns the rightful pain of conviction into anger toward others.
The first blame-shifting is found immediately after the fall with Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming the serpent (devil) for their rebellion. The truth is Adam, Eve and the serpent were all guilty in different ways and each received their rightful judgment. Blame-shifting runs rampant in our world such that there's a hardening of hearts against repentance. Children blame their parents, spouses blame each other, students-parents blame their teachers, citizens blame their government, and (God forbid) congregations blame their pastors. The world is quite literally self-deceived by blame-shifting and we only become part of the problem when we try to make excuses for the sins of others. Elijah was having none of Ahab's evasive blame-shifting and correctly called Ahab the real troubler (literally one who brings disaster) of Israel by pointing directly to his idolatry. Elijah was demonstrating true (agape) love to Ahab and to Israel but I'm sure it didn't feel that way. He pointed to the only path to repentance and an end to the economic disaster caused by drought.
Proverbs 28:13 warns, "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." James 1:13-14 says don't try to blame God (or His Elect) for your sin "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." It is helpful to rate ourselves (1-10) on the tendency of blame-shifting and other forms of excuse-making and then take steps to walk in the light of God's word (1 John 1:7-9). Blame-shifting stalls our spiritual growth and the only solution is to accept reality and repent. May the Lord help us walk in the light as He is in the light and the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all sin.
Here is the classic "blame the messenger" or actually blame-shifting, as Ahab frames Elijah as the troubler of Israel rather than the one who is simply declaring God's judgment against Ahab's idolatry. Blame-shifting is an evasive tactic where someone redirects responsibility for their actions onto another person in an attempt to make the target feel guilty or ashamed. Blame-shifting feels so effortless to us because it is part of the fallen nature, yet it is extremely dangerous as it stops all true repentance. It turns the rightful pain of conviction into anger toward others.
The first blame-shifting is found immediately after the fall with Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming the serpent (devil) for their rebellion. The truth is Adam, Eve and the serpent were all guilty in different ways and each received their rightful judgment. Blame-shifting runs rampant in our world such that there's a hardening of hearts against repentance. Children blame their parents, spouses blame each other, students-parents blame their teachers, citizens blame their government, and (God forbid) congregations blame their pastors. The world is quite literally self-deceived by blame-shifting and we only become part of the problem when we try to make excuses for the sins of others. Elijah was having none of Ahab's evasive blame-shifting and correctly called Ahab the real troubler (literally one who brings disaster) of Israel by pointing directly to his idolatry. Elijah was demonstrating true (agape) love to Ahab and to Israel but I'm sure it didn't feel that way. He pointed to the only path to repentance and an end to the economic disaster caused by drought.
Proverbs 28:13 warns, "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." James 1:13-14 says don't try to blame God (or His Elect) for your sin "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." It is helpful to rate ourselves (1-10) on the tendency of blame-shifting and other forms of excuse-making and then take steps to walk in the light of God's word (1 John 1:7-9). Blame-shifting stalls our spiritual growth and the only solution is to accept reality and repent. May the Lord help us walk in the light as He is in the light and the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all sin.