The Trap Of Rationalisation

Brothers and sisters, everyone has our own inclinations and preferences. And when our desires are strong, we will try our best to satisfy it. At times, even when the said desire is not pleasing to God, we may try to convince ourselves or others by saying things like, “It is not a big deal. It is just one time” or “Other people are doing it too, it’s fine.” We do this in the hope that it will ease our spiritual guilt. However, we truly have to be guarded against this state of rationalisation. If not, we will easily turn our desires into our god.

What is rationalisation?

Firstly, let us ask ourselves what rationalisation means. Rationalisation is when we deem something bad as good in order to suit our personal preference or perspective, and it is closely related to men’s desires. As we may have certain strong desires, it triggers our minds to work out ways, reasons and excuses to validate what we want to do as what is right. In the bible, there is an interesting example on this. Proverbs 22:13 “The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!” Here, we can clearly see that the motive of the sluggard is that he does not want to go out to work, so he made up a story about a lion to rationalise his behaviour. In fact, rationalisation is when we shift our focus from the truth (that is that the sluggard does not want to work) to a fake truth (that is an idea of a lion outside), just so that one can get what they want. That is why people come up with all sorts of excuses that goes according to ways of their hearts and minds. Now, a person that often rationalises is at a risk of easily falling into pits of biased judgment. As this goes on, they may be very unbalanced when it comes to decision making and may even distort evidences to suit their own inclinations. Now, as we are all sinners, even believers may easily rationalise our desires and sins. This is especially so in sins that are not obviously mentioned in the bible or in the grey areas.

Expressions of Rationalisation

The Blame Game

This is usually the first or most common form of an excuse that people will use. When the Lord ask why did Adam eat the forbidden fruit, the immediate response he gave was “it was the woman who gave it to me”. And when the Lord went on the question Eve, she was quick to point her finger at the serpent and blamed it. Similarly, when Samuel rebuked Saul for fully destroying the possessions of the enemies, Saul’s first reaction was not to admit his mistake but to blame it on the people. And then he went on to give another seemingly reasonable reason and that is to use the enemies’ lamb that was not destroyed as an offering to God. So we can see from here that people who rationalises often blames people, blames their circumstances like work is too fatigue, finances are not as good, not enough time and more. However, as they continue to do so, they will lose the heart to see God’s work in these paradoxical situations.

Distorting the standards of right and wrong
Next, another expression of rationalisation is when one starts twisting the standard of right and wrong. When other’s thoughts or approach are different from ours, we may say, “That is just what you think, but I think it can be explained this way as well.” And many times, those who often rationalises will have double standards. For example, when others are short tempered and acts on impulse, they are impatient and unreasonable. However, when we act up in anger and tantrums, we say that it is actually a righteous anger. Or when others do not serve in church, we see them as lazy or loving the world, but when we do not serve, it is because we are busy with work and are tired. We seem to see others with a different set of standards as we see ourselves. People as such tend to follow their own hearts to determine what is right and wrong, but they do not turn to God’s word, to God’s standard of what is holy, righteous and loving. They may even think that if they sin a little, it is fine and better off them committing bigger sins. However, even a small sin is still a sin after all, so we must not underestimate it. In all honesty, a person that rationalises are actually those who do not want to put in the effort in dealing with their sinful natures, battling with the old self and thus, seeks excuses for themselves.

Selective comparison
Also, in order to emphasise that they are not the worst, people who rationalise tend to compare with those who are weaker than them. This only helps them to feel less guilty and less heavy on their spiritual conscience. But God does not want us to compare ourselves with others, but to compare our spiritual state to God’s standards and to pursue the fullness in God.

Using the past as an excuse

Finally, an expression of rationalising is also to use the past as an excuse. One may often like to say, “Oh I have been like this all these years. This is just me.” Or “I was brought up in this way, so it is a habit I cannot change easily.” However, the bible tells us to take off our old self and put on the new self. Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Rid the trap of Rationalisation

Now brethren, let us be truthful with ourselves today. If we are in a state of rationalising our sins, our only hope is to see God’s renewing and transformational work in our lives. This is because, our fallen heart will often trigger our minds to rationalise our carnal desires and temptations. Therefore, when this is all above us, we need the help of God, and the Lord has blessed us with two helplines that can aid us in ridding the trap of rationalisation.

Our role model, Jesus
Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Our first helpline is to look upon our role model, and that is Jesus Christ. When we focus and ponder more on the examples that Jesus has left for us through His life and the word, we will gradually be influenced rightly by His spirit. And thus, we will slowly lose the heart to rationalise. When that happens, we will move from only wanting to satisfy our own needs, to a person that is more able to love God and love men, humbly serving, and selfless.

The help of the Holy Spirit
Then in Romans 8:13, it says, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” And in Galatians 5:16, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” When we follow according to the spirit, it will empower us to obey the Lord over wanting to fulfil our desires. Now of course, there will be times where our rationalisation could be very similar to God’s will. Sometimes, it may seem like an excuse for ourselves but it could only seem like what the Holy Spirit would instruct us to do. For example, we may feel tired and do not feel like shepherding a certain brethren, but at the same time, God could also want this person to rely on God and lesser on people, so it seems right that you do not meet the person that much anyway. Or you could be frustrated at a person, but God may also want you to give the person some straightforward advice to help them turn back to God, so it may seem right to speak up in a firm manner. How then do we deal with these instances? The way is to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in you. Bring up all your options, judgements, and any other matters before the Holy Spirit, and gain the peace and conviction to do or not do certain things.

Brothers and sisters, may we all restore a life that lets God take the throne of our hearts and minds, and not be entrapped by the tendency to rationalise our sins or desires. God bless.