Genesis 3:12-13
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 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.”
The first step of the 12-step program is to admit that we have a problem, but unfortunately we, like Adam and Eve, are often afraid to admit our sin. We get stuck in patterns of denial ("I don't have a problem"), rationalization ("everyone does it"), and minimization ("it's not that bad"). God gives Adam and Eve a chance to come clean and admit what happened, asking them several questions before pronouncing judgment. But rather than repent they instead shift the blame. They can't deny the sin, but they are afraid, so they proclaim "it's not my fault!". Likewise we often try to hide our sin, and when that is no longer possible, to then deny responsibility. This is partly due to a fear of God's punishment, but I think it is also due to a fear of facing our true selves. Our self-worth is often connected to our "goodness", and it can be frightening to admit how broken we really are. So instead we escape to fantasy, superiority, and self-justification. But God is a God of truth, so He confronts our deceptions and uses consequences to get us to admit the truth and seek healing.
God, I don't want to be a failure, a sinner. I want to be to be good, and I want you and others to be proud of me. I don't like looking at the bad stuff inside me, but I have to admit that I am a broken, messed up sinner. Help me to be honest with You so I can receive Your healing and grace.
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 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.”
The first step of the 12-step program is to admit that we have a problem, but unfortunately we, like Adam and Eve, are often afraid to admit our sin. We get stuck in patterns of denial ("I don't have a problem"), rationalization ("everyone does it"), and minimization ("it's not that bad"). God gives Adam and Eve a chance to come clean and admit what happened, asking them several questions before pronouncing judgment. But rather than repent they instead shift the blame. They can't deny the sin, but they are afraid, so they proclaim "it's not my fault!". Likewise we often try to hide our sin, and when that is no longer possible, to then deny responsibility. This is partly due to a fear of God's punishment, but I think it is also due to a fear of facing our true selves. Our self-worth is often connected to our "goodness", and it can be frightening to admit how broken we really are. So instead we escape to fantasy, superiority, and self-justification. But God is a God of truth, so He confronts our deceptions and uses consequences to get us to admit the truth and seek healing.
God, I don't want to be a failure, a sinner. I want to be to be good, and I want you and others to be proud of me. I don't like looking at the bad stuff inside me, but I have to admit that I am a broken, messed up sinner. Help me to be honest with You so I can receive Your healing and grace.