The Blame Game

THE BLAME GAME

Today’s devotional “The Blame Game” considers how today it seems like people are looking to blame others for things. We are not called to find blame but to be a light to the world and not to snuff out the light of others. 

THOUGHT:

“Snuffing out someone else’s light, does not make yours burn any brighter”

It is everywhere today. In the media today, we are bombarded with news about all the negativity that abounds in our world. Inflation, crime, famine, and on and on. In Journalism 101, the student learns that a news story needs to include a summary of the story within the first two sentences. It is simple public relations. Get someone’s attention with an enticing headline and then give them the news in as quick and concise a plot as possible. Sure, the article can then go on to be reflective of depth and detailed intricacies. Yet, the main “catch,” if you will, is the initial impact.

Unfortunately, today the other main component is blaming. Instead of just giving the story in a simple and truthful way, the reporter is much more likely in today’s times, to blame someone and often it is the victim instead of the perpetrator.

What is victim blaming? It is implying the fault of the crime lies with the victim rather than the perpetrator. For example, blaming a woman for a rape that occurs. Think about it though – if you blame the rape victim because her clothes may have been provocative, then you must also blame the bank that was robbed because its money is provocative and enticing. The perpetrator tries to lessen their role in a situation, their guilt, their low self-esteem, etc. by creating or magnifying the benign actions of the victim. Really? What happened to the days when we took responsibility for our own words and actions?

The problem is that the victim blaming occurs in many other ways than the media. It happens with friends, family, and even in the workplace. This is not a new phenomenon. It happened in Jesus’ earthly life as well. Let us consider the miracle of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand:

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So, he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. —Matthew 12:9-14—

So, the Pharisees are accusing Jesus of healing or “working” on the Sabbath. Instead of being grateful that the man is healed and celebrating the positive changes that will now be able to occur within this man’s life…they flip the tables and BLAME Jesus and stigmatize His amazing miracle. Instead of being in awe of the event, they blame Jesus and charge Him with a sin. Instead of admitting they can do nothing to help this man and understanding their own limitations, they steal away the JOY that should have been felt by all. Blaming the victim is their defense to their own weaknesses. When someone is always negative and looking to blame someone other than themselves, they are guilty of blocking the person from their own success.

Maybe when we are in a relationship with someone, instead of actively searching to find blame and use blame to indict the other person – we should be more introspective, utilizing internal dialogue to discover “why” we are looking to blame. Is it because they have done something wrong OR more likely we are feeling inadequate within, and are using the other person as an outlet for lacking the skills we crave?

When we learn not to blame, we allow the persons’ candle to bring light into the dark, burning brighter each day. Instead of dampening someone’s light, we can choose to encourage them and be the accelerant they need to illuminate the world.

PRAYER: 

Help me Lord, to help others to shine brightly. Give them, even my enemies, the source and power they need from You to brighten others’ lives. Let me be a listener and a supporter, not degrader or blamer. Help me to be the light in the darkness. AMEN.

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