The Devil made me do it!

Herbert Armstrong taught that Satan is ultimately responsible for all of our sins. In his Pagan Holidays - or God's Holy Days - Which? booklet, he wrote: "The devil is the real author of all sin." Hence, for Armstrong and his associates, justice demanded that our sins must ultimately be placed on the head of the one who was really responsible for them. In that same booklet, Armstrong summarized his thinking thus: "The real cause- the actual author of those sins-was Satan the devil. Is it justice for Christ to bear guilt that is not His, while the devil goes off scot-free? Do you not suppose GOD'S great plan will finally work full justice by placing that original blame and guilt right where it belongs?"

To be sure, this notion that Satan is the one who is actually culpable for our sins has enjoyed widespread acceptance in our society. The comedian Flip Wilson used to say, "The Devil made me do it!" When caught in sin, Mother Eve told God that the serpent had deceived her (Genesis 3:13). And my Armstrongist friends are quick to point out that Jesus said that Satan was the father of lies (John 8:44), and that Satan has deceived the entire world (Revelation 12:9). But does that make Satan the one who is ultimately responsible for all sin?

Does Satan play a role in our sins? Does "he" cause us to sin? Does "he" make us sin? What exactly does Satan do? Scripture informs us that Satan's modus operandi is to deceive and tempt people. Scripture informs us that Satan can appear as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14) and attempts to make sin appear to be reasonable and/or good (Genesis 3:1-7). The Bible informs us that Satan harassed Job in an effort to get him to sin (Job 1 and 2), and that he tempted Jesus Christ to sin (Matt.4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). However, in all of these instances, it appears that Satan did not have the ability/power to force these people to sin. In other words, in each of these examples, the individual in question had to make their own decision to sin or to refrain from sinning.

In the book of James, we read that "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12) Hence, the logical conclusion is that it is possible to "patiently endure testing and temptation" - it is not a forgone conclusion that we will succumb to those tests and temptations. Indeed, later in this same epistle the author encourages his readers to "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) In fact, in describing the process of sin, James doesn't even mention the devil! He described that process in the following terms: "Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death." (James 1:14-15).

Moreover, if "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), then why on earth would humans be required to pay a penalty which they had not earned? If Satan is indeed responsible for all of our sins, then why did Christ have to die for those sins? Why must we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and God if someone else is the real perpetrator of those sins? (Rom.14:10,12; 2 Cor.5:10; Rev.20:11-12)

Finally, the notion of personal accountability for our behavior is explicitly laid out in Scripture in a number of places, but probably no where more powerfully than in the book of Ezekiel. We read there: "For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die. “Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right...Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign Lord. “But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right. And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery, oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins, and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame. “But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life...Such a person will not die because of his father’s sins; he will surely live. But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people. 'What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live. The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness." (Ezekiel 18:4-20)

In other words, Satan may be the father of lies and sins; but his parental role will not excuse or justify the sins of his offspring! The Devil cannot make us do anything. God has given us the ability to choose to obey "Him" or to sin. And, while it may be funny in the mouth of a comedian, "the devil made me do it" won't carry much currency with God on the Day of Judgment! Christ paid the penalty for your sins and mine - not Satan's. To be sure, Satan has enough sins of his own to answer for someday, but that event has/will have NOTHING to do with our AT-ONE-MENT or reconciliation with God - that was/is accomplished entirely by Jesus Christ!