Don't Blame me
The question of “who’s to blame” seems to be one of every generation. After Satan had beguiled Eve in the garden, Adam followed suit and sinned as well. Adam said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” (Gen. 3:12). Adam seems to tie his actions to what God did in providing him with a wife. The children of Adam and Eve faced a similar situation. Cain and Abel made an offering to God. Cain's offering came from the fruit of the ground, and Abel’s offering came from the firstborn of his flock. Cain’s offering was rejected by God while Abel’s offering was accepted. Both had been instructed in what proper worship was, but Cain chose to do it according to his own will. Cain was filled with envy and hatred toward his brother and took Abel’s life. God questioned Cain about his brother, and his response was, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9). Is it my responsibility to keep up with him? Cain’s answer shows a rejection of accountability.
Throughout several millennia, man has held to a similar pattern. Advocates of the Evolution Theory believe that since man evolved from animals, he has animalistic tendencies. At times, animals are brutal and violent, so it is not uncommon for man, as their offspring, to act in a similar manner. This gross ideology is an attempt to excuse man from moral responsibility and accountability for his actions.
The doctrine of original (inherited) sin also implies that man is not to blame for the sin he commits. It was Adam who chose to sin, and because of his decision, man has inherited the guilt of sin and is inclined to sin. Some have argued that how can a man be responsible for sin if it is traceable to an ancestor?
Both conclusions are false. The Bible teaches that we were created by God and in the image of God (Gen 1:26). Man was created to have dominion over the animals of the earth, not to be their offspring (Gen 1:28). The Bible also teaches that we do not carry the burden of another man's sin. “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezek. 18:20). It is true that all men sin (Rom. 3:23). When he does sin, he sins according to his own free will. He doesn’t sin because someone or something made him do it, but because he chose to sin. Similarly, man is not forced to obey God’s commandments. He does it because he chooses to and because he loves God (John 14:15).
Brad Burkett
West End church of Christ • April 26, 2026