The subtle sin of … rationalization.
As humans we have all made unwise decisions, we’ve also all at times rationalized those decisions. ‘Rationalization’ is defined as: an attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate. People often try to justify the wrong things they want to do in their lives. Essentially, rationalizing is a way of making excuses. Creating in our mind a logical, plausible, or other explanation to justify our actions — or inactions. Ever since Adam tried to blame Eve (Gen. 3:12), all humans have rationalized – justified and made excuses for their often-sinful actions or lack of action. Rationalization can ever so easily lead to sin we may not take the time to fully recognize. Could we fall into this way of thinking?
Proverbs 21:2 states, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.” Notice the scripture says, “every way.” We deceive ourselves into believing that there’s logic behind the decision we have made. Sometimes we are oblivious to this deception and sometimes, deep down, we know what we are doing. If a person does something he thinks is incorrect, his actions will seem right either by changing his mind or justifying and rationalizing what he did. Moses tried to downplay his ability to lead God’s people out of Israel (Exodus 3), Aaron tried to deflect blame for the Golden Calf onto others (Exodus 32:22), throughout human history people have rationalized their sins and rebellion to God.
There are two factors that need to be considered when asking ourselves why we rationalize poor — sometimes sinful decisions: (1) We are all emotional beings that, more often than not, act on intuitive, emotional decision making; and (2) We don’t like to be wrong.
But, we cannot be deceived–this second factor is directly linked to the first. We don’t like to be wrong — why? Well, it’s about protecting our ego, protecting the manner in which we perceive ourselves and how we feel about ourselves. If you ever notice yourself saying, or thinking, any of defence mechanisms listed below, it should be a warning sign that you are rationalizing. I pulled a list of human escape responses (rationalizations) from psychology today and submit them here to encourage personal thought as we examine this topic. They are all helpful as we consider the subtle sin of rationalization. I will add scriptural considerations to some again to provoke thought and self examination.
Although this list is not exhaustive, I’ve included it because rationalization is a defense mechanism all humans use to facilitate what we want or how we want to feel, while at the same time preserving positive self-perception in the face of a poor – perhaps outright sinful decision.
Rationalizations are a potent enemy to anyone desiring to follow God. It is true that others can influence us to commit sins (Matthew 18:6-7; Proverbs 13:20), however, God holds each one of us responsible for our own actions. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). If someone is causing us to sin, we must get away from them (1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians 6:8). Joseph never said, “Potiphar’s wife made me do it!” (Genesis 39:7-12).
Rationalizing sin works like an anesthetic to our consciences allowing us to avoid the pain of guilt when we don’t live up to God’s values. We want to think well of ourselves so much that we develop strategies to convince ourselves that we are better than we actually are. This pattern of rationalization and self-justification is very apparent in today’s society of moral decline and moving away from any Godly standards. Sinful behavior has been explained away, excused, tolerated, defended, and now accepted by many people. Notice what God inspires Paul to say in Romans 1:22-32 about those who become deceived by the work of Satan and their own carnal minds. The verses begin, “Professing to be wise, they became fools” and end with these strong words: “who, knowing the righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those practicing them.” God Himself has allowed most in our world to be deceived and we cannot allow ourselves to follow the subtle pattern of rationalizing ungodly behaviour.
An excellent example of how we should react when we are being confronted with our sin is shown by King David. Most of us are familiar with David’s affair with Bathsheba and his attempt to cover it up, including murder. In 2 Samuel 12:1-4, God sends Nathan the prophet to confront David about his sin. Now, Nathan does not come right out and tell him. Nathan starts out with telling him a story. The story is that of a rich man and a poor man who each owned lambs. The poor man owned only one lamb, and it was like a member of his family. A traveler came to the rich man, and the rich man did not want to slaughter one of his own lambs, so he took the lamb of the poor man and slaughtered it for his guest.
David quickly takes the bait and pronounces a sentence upon himself: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity” (2 Samuel 12:5-6). Nathan quickly responds, telling him, “You are the man!” (verse 7). Nathan then proceeds by telling David what a scoundrel he was and the curses he will receive because of his actions.
What was David’s reaction? Did he make excuses? Rationalize and blame it on someone else? Try and call it normal? In verse 13 he says, “I have sinned against the LORD.” After Nathan’s speech, David quickly and immediately chose to acknowledge his sin and repent. We must do the same. We must quickly repent, realize our sin and allow God to justify us. Only through repentance can we truly be justified.
Christ expounds on this idea with a parable in Luke 18:10-14. He says, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Either we allow God to justify us, or we try to rationalize and justify ourselves. The only true way we can be justified is by not rationalizing and making excuses - trying to reason around the problem. God gives us His Word to guide us, and He put a conscience in us, but we damage its effectiveness if we resist its guidance. Every man’s actions can seem right in his own eyes. God forces us to make a decision. Either we allow God to justify us, or we rationalize and try to justify ourselves. The only way to be truly justified is to acknowledge we are wrong, repent and change as David did.
As I conclude this pastor’s message, the last thing the devil wants us to do is to deal honestly with the sin and shortcomings in our life. If we are avoiding our sin (by rationalizing, denying, or attempting to otherwise excuse it), we will remain in that sin. It is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance. As we examine ourselves before Passover remember the subtle sin of rationalization as we do indeed live in perilous times. No one likes having their sins pointed out. And our pride makes it easy to be tempted to defend ourselves in such situations – go back over the list of defence mechanisms a few times before Passover and simply reflect on your life. We must rise above this temptation to rationalize and always be willing to deal honestly with the sin that is in our life.