Self Justification – A Greater Sin?
Self justification according to Wikipedia, is how, when a person encounters cognitive dissonance, or a situation in which a person’s behavior is inconsistent with their beliefs (hypocrisy), that person tends to justify the behavior and deny any negative feedback associated with the behavior.
Dictionary.com defines Self Justification as the act or fact of justifying oneself, especially of offering excessive reasons, explanations, excuses, etc., for an act, thought, or the like.
All humans have at one time or the other been guilty of self justification. It is a natural tendency for man to resolve to the defensive, hence exhibiting an attitude of behavioral defence or self justification as the case may be.
People usually don’t like to take blames, and for every action, a man may assume pseudo perfection, with the assumption that his reasons for the particular behaviour, is justifiable, hence the best attainable in such a circumstance.
When men see themselves as perfect beings, or as faultless personalities or infallible, self justification is usually the case.
However, people that see themselves as not been perfect, but striving towards perfection will accept their faults when their attentions are drawn towards their errors, and such persons will strive to make amends when they behold their errors.
Self justification and behavioral defence did not just start today. It has been an age long practice even in biblical time.
The question we seem to be aiming at today, is to beam a search light on this topic of self justification, self deception or behavioral defence. Is self justification a greater sin?
Humans are prone to ere, but the onus lies on us to accept our errors and make do to make amends to these wrong behaviors, to desist from such acts that are not in accordance with the will and word of God.
When we begin to justify our actions, then we are not yet ready to repent of such sins or misdemeanors.
1 Samuel 15:20-21
20 And Saul Said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy GOD in Gilgal.
Saul the first king of Israel resulted to self defence and justification of his behaviour when he was confronted by Samuel, of having gone against the commandment of the Lord.
God had instructed Saul by the mouth of Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites, but Saul went there and did otherwise, saving the king of the nation alive, and the chiefest of the things which should have been destroyed.
Saul did not only justify his action, but laid the responsibility of his decision as a king, and the failure of his person on the people.
It seems to me like Saul feared the people he ruled to the God who made him ruler over the ruled, and will go against the commandment of the Lord, in order to gratify the will of the people.
This incidence is the second time Saul for fear, circumvented divine direction for human opinion and reason.
Saul erred yes!
But was that his utmost failure?
Not at all
Saul was good at throwing the blames for his actions on others, and will not accept his own fault. Where he erred, he would rather justify his actions than accept corrections, and make amends. He sees his fault only as a result of a pronouncement, but remains unbroken. He feels untouched by the punishment from God his maker and King.
These are the grievous errors of Saul.
His unwillingness to accept his faults and change, cost his kingship.
Whenever we fail to accept our faults especially when God convicts us of them, we seem to be throwing the blame on God, and we make Him a liar.
If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. – 1 John 1:10
When God convicts us of sins, it is because he wants us to repent, and He doesn’t want sins to sever our relationship with Him.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.- 1 John 1:9
Because His eyes are too holy to behold iniquity, God will draw our attention to whatever is standing in His way of relating with us. It is only when we harden our hearts, He will turn His back on us.
But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they? – Habakkuk 1:13 NLT
Even then, He patiently waits for when we will come back to our right senses to make the right decision, and to turn back to Him like the prodigal son. His fatherly love will not allow Him to leave us to perish.
Romans 8:31-39.
He daily loads us with benefits, and gives us His word as a check and balance, convicting us when we go wrong.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. – Psalm 68:19
May His grace continue to abide, that we may discover his voice, and the inner calling of His word to guide us along the right path always.