Blameless

 

I’ve observed a consistent behavior among our daughters. Whenever their dad or I ask them about something they did wrong, they immediately shift the focus to something their sibling did wrong instead. Instead of addressing their mistakes, all they want to talk about is the long list of faults regarding their siblings. Even our youngest daughter, who is still a toddler, does this. When they blame someone else, it often indicates they are trying to hide something about themselves. However, once we've addressed and discussed their faults, they seem less concerned with finding blame in their siblings.

 

Jesus addressed a similar situation with the Pharisees when they accused a woman of adultery. They brought her before Him, ready to stone her. Jesus knew that if they were focused on blaming her, they likely hadn’t dealt with their issues of sin. When he turned the attention back to their sins, the accusers gradually left.

 

They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and asked her, "Where are your accusers? Didn’t I even one of them condemn you?" (John 8:8-10)

 

This idea applies to us as the family of God, too. A truly forgiven Christian isn't quick to judge others, while someone who hasn’t yet dealt with their own sins tends to have a microscope on the mistakes of others. When they truly understand their forgiveness in Christ, they stop finding faults in other Christians.   They become "blameless." 

 

When the Bible talks about someone being “blameless,” I think it doesn't necessarily imply someone who never sins; we all make and will continue to make mistakes. Instead, I'm convinced a blameless Christian knows their identity in Christ and understands they are forgiven. This awareness helps them no longer judge and notice the mistakes of others.