Rationalizing
Rationalize -to attempt to explain or justify one’s own, or another person’s, behavior or attitude with logical, plausible reasons, even if the reasons are not true or appropriate. -Google dictionary
Rationalizing – we’ve all done it.
We’ve explained things away – also called making excuses, for our bad or improper behavior.
We make up reasons and twist words and phrases to make it sound like what we are doing or thinking is okay, even though it isn’t.
It makes us feel better about ourselves and feel like maybe, just maybe, our choice is better when we already know it isn’t.
Someone else used this tactic – the enemy.
In the Garden of Eden, when the serpent tempted Eve with the fruit, she knew she wasn’t supposed to eat it.
The enemy, in the form of the serpent, didn’t say, “hey, eat this.”.
Instead, he was sly about it.
Yes, he did call into question whether God really said what Eve knew He said.
But, then he started talking and explaining why things wouldn’t turn out as bad as God had said they would.
He also explained why there were things to be gained by doing it; and why it was okay to do what she wanted instead of what God had said.
Unfortunately, Eve gave in to the temptation of the lies and believed him.