Billy Graham: How to Deal With Someone Who Won't Accept Responsibility for Their Actions
The best way to deal with someone who won't take responsibility for their actions is to confront them and pray for them, the Rev. Billy Graham advises for Christians who are seeking conflict resolution.
Graham, a renowned evangelical pastor, wrote in a recent post for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association that although dealing with someone who won't take responsibility for their actions can be very frustrating, it is important to continue communicating with them and offering love and prayers for them.
The evangelical leader points to the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:1-13, where Adam blames his sinful actions on Eve and God instead of taking responsibility for them.
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"It's admittedly hard to help someone who blames everyone else for their problems and refuses to accept responsibility for what they've done," Graham writes.
The best way to deal with these types of people is to confront them peacefully and "ask God to give you an opportunity to confront your sister about her need to take responsibility for her decisions. Confront her gently and yet very directly, letting her know how you and others see her. Let her know you care about her and love her very much, and don't get angry or let it turn into an argument," Graham writes, citing Proverbs 15:31 which reads: "Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise."
It's also important to pray for the person avoiding responsibility, Graham continues.
"Most of all, pray for [them]. Only God can change [their] heart— and He will, as [they turn] to Christ and seeks His will for [their] life," the evangelical leader writes. "God loves [them], and He wants to help [them] confront [their] problems. Urge [them] to open [their] life to Christ, and to turn to Him for the wisdom and help [they need]."
Graham has spoken on the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions before, writing in a previous blog post that Christians should be careful not to blame the devil for sinful actions. While the devil can tempt believers, ultimately it is people's own fault if we indulge in sin.
"We alone are responsible for our sins, and we alone are responsible for the pain and heartache they cause us. This is why we need Christ, for only He can change our hearts and give us the power to do what is right," Graham wrote in the previous post, referencing Philippians 4:13 which reads: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
We as Christians need "the moral and spiritual strength to do what is right," Graham concludes, adding that while Satan may convince people that they need sin, only God can give us "the joy and peace [we seek]."
