The Rhetoric of Rationalizing

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

The Rhetoric of Rationalizing
You and I know it happens. In fact, we've all done it more times than we care to admit. The rhetoric of rationalizing is simply the art of making excuses. "What I did wasn't as bad as what she did." "I can't help being the way God made me." "I know it hurt his feelings, but I only told the truth." Friend, there is nothing new or modern about this sort of language. It is as old as Eden and deeply ingrained in the process of human thought and speech. "The woman you gave me caused me to eat it." "Kings get bored just sitting on their balconies." "Crucify him! Who knows what the truth is anyway?" As I reflect on all the rationalizing we involve ourselves in, it seems to me that the trick of refusing to accept responsibility has been institutionalized in our culture. Several years ago, the famous psychiatrist Karl Menninger called attention to the virtual disappearance of the word "sin" from contemporary vocabulary. With a sort of verbal sleight of hand, we tend to use a soft word such as "mistake" where we would be better to use the more severe term "sin." We also seem to prefer "sickness" to "evil." The softer words don't sound nearly so serious. The greatest sin of all however, is blindness to one's own sinfulness. Until sin is admitted, though, forgiveness is irrelevant. Only when I accept responsibility for my actions can anything constructive be done toward setting things right. The language of honest confession is a far cry from rationalizing and making excuses. "God, be merciful to me. I am a sinner." "Jesus came to save sinners - of whom I am the worst." "If we confess our sins, he will forgive and cleanse us." It is a rare person indeed, who is brave enough to admit that he made an error on an office report, that she was the one guilty of spreading what turned out to be an untrue report, or that the marriage is failing because he has been abusive. Rare as such people may be, they are the ones who deserve the highest respect. They are the ones who correct faults, salvage relationships, and conquer defects of character. In their remorse, they find God. In finding God, they find not only pardon but empowerment to live an entirely new way. Friend, if you're hiding behind a smokescreen of excuses. It is time to step into the light of honesty. If you are willing to do this, you will see things clearly - for the first time in a long time. One final thought: While it's true that we all make mistakes, some mistakes are more public than others. How do you handle those mistakes that everyone knows about? Well, if you are experiencing difficulty in this area, let me encourage you to write to me for a FREE copy of a booklet titled "When You Can't Hide Your Mistakes." I'd be pleased to send this to you by return mail. My postal address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331. Or you may phone/fax your request on: (08) 98 418 418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

You and I know it happens. In fact, we've all done it more times than we care to admit. The rhetoric of rationalizing is simply the art of making excuses.

"What I did wasn't as bad as what she did."
"I can't help being the way God made me."
"I know it hurt his feelings, but I only told the truth."

Friend, there is nothing new or modern about this sort of language. It is as old as Eden and deeply ingrained in the process of human thought and speech.

"The woman you gave me caused me to eat it."
"Kings get bored just sitting on their balconies."
"Crucify him! Who knows what the truth is anyway?"

As I reflect on all the rationalizing we involve ourselves in, it seems to me that the trick of refusing to accept responsibility has been institutionalized in our culture. Several years ago, the famous psychiatrist Karl Menninger called attention to the virtual disappearance of the word "sin" from contemporary vocabulary. With a sort of verbal sleight of hand, we tend to use a soft word such as "mistake" where we would be better to use the more severe term "sin." We also seem to prefer "sickness" to "evil." The softer words don't sound nearly so serious.

The greatest sin of all however, is blindness to one's own sinfulness. Until sin is admitted, though, forgiveness is irrelevant. Only when I accept responsibility for my actions can anything constructive be done toward setting things right. The language of honest confession is a far cry from rationalizing and making excuses.

"God, be merciful to me. I am a sinner."
"Jesus came to save sinners - of whom I am the worst."
"If we confess our sins, he will forgive and cleanse us."

It is a rare person indeed, who is brave enough to admit that he made an error on an office report, that she was the one guilty of spreading what turned out to be an untrue report, or that the marriage is failing because he has been abusive.

Rare as such people may be, they are the ones who deserve the highest respect. They are the ones who correct faults, salvage relationships, and conquer defects of character. In their remorse, they find God. In finding God, they find not only pardon but empowerment to live an entirely new way.

Friend, if you're hiding behind a smokescreen of excuses. It is time to step into the light of honesty. If you are willing to do this, you will see things clearly - for the first time in a long time.

One final thought: While it's true that we all make mistakes, some mistakes are more public than others. How do you handle those mistakes that everyone knows about? Well, if you are experiencing difficulty in this area, let me encourage you to write to me for a FREE copy of a booklet titled "When You Can't Hide Your Mistakes." I'd be pleased to send this to you by return mail. My postal address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331. Or you may phone/fax your request on: (08) 98 418 418.
Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au