August 28 2011"HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR? … Mark 8:18(NASB)It’s an age old problem, hearing and seeing only what we want to hear or see, especially when it comes to God. To some degree it is understandable because our ears and eyes filter things. Our nature, personality, upbringing, life experiences, culture, religious/non-religious background, education, values, and world view all influence what we hear and see, as well as what we miss.There is a difference between Christians and Non-Christians when it comes to spiritual blindness and deafness. Christian blindness/deafness evidences itself in applying the scriptures selectively, in an eclectic obedience, in knowing the truth of Jesus Christ but not living the life of Christ. “I believe in Jesus but I don’t have to belong to a church,” is an example of reading and applying the Bible in a selective, blind way. “God helps those who help themselves,” is an example of adding to biblical theology, reading into the Bible something that is opposite to what it teaches. God does help who cannot help themselves, the poor, the fatherless, widows, and sinners (and every Christian is a sinner who couldn’t save him/herself from death and God’s judgment and wrath, yet was forgiven and reconciled not on the basis of what he or she did but because of what Jesus Christ did for them). Christian deafness and blindness diminishes Christ, makes us at best caricatures of what we really should be, and at worst causes us to spill blood.Non-Christian “blindness and deafness” causes a rejection of the truth of Jesus Christ, of what God is revealing about himself, life, eternity, sin, death, and judgment. Sometimes the rejection is civil, “I believe what I believe, you believe what you believe.” Sometimes it is vicious ranging from ridicule to outright persecution. Spiritual truth is no less important than any other truth; spiritual reality is as relevant. Jesus Christ was and is offensive to the Non-Christian mind and heart because of who he is, the revelation of God in human form, the only way to heaven, the only avenue to be reconciled to God, or has he stated, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” John 14:6 (NASB).Both Christian and Non-Christian spiritual blindness and deafness perpetuates cycles of sin, darkness, and evil. It turns Christians into stumbling blocks for Non-Christians, and keeps Non-Christians enslaved in the sinful patterns of our world and on a collision course with God’s judgment.Can I challenge you to a small exercise? Read the 8th Chapter of the Gospel of John and highlight the things to which you would say “Right on,” “I agree with that or simply “Amen.” Then let me know in an email what you highlighted (and if you are ambitious also tell me why).Jesus saves sinners,love youPastor Hans (theGermanShepherd@juno.com)