Living With Blindness

Let them alone, they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit. Matthew 15:14 (New American Standard Bible)

These words were spoken in relationship to the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. There were many things they could not see when it came to Jesus and His teachings. Their view of Scripture was filtered through their own mindset of traditions. How tragic when man’s opinion and preference is put on equal footing with the Word of God. What is it like to be one of the blind being guided by the blind?

For three decades I lived my Christian life out of an inability to freely approach God’s Word and see what it said for myself. When it came to personal standards, much of my “list” was made up of what others said a Christian should and shouldn’t be doing. I am not talking about things that are clearly spelled out in Scripture. Any time you see the words “Thou shalt not” in front of something in the Bible there should be no question as to the necessity to implement that into your life. Who would question the fact that a person should not kill, steal, lie, commit sexual sins, etc….? While some churches have ceased to even mention clear cut biblical commands from the pulpits, praise God for those who still do!

My problem was never with those areas being taught. Yet I did struggle to realize that the gray issues of our society were not to be held on equal footing with direct commands from the Bible. The gray issues for me were things being taught by the church that were not spelled out in Scripture. They usually fell under the heading of scriptural principles when in actuality were the opinions and preferences of people. Each church has its own set of acceptable and unacceptable behavior for Christians. My list would probably look different from yours.

I am not saying that standards are wrong to have. Standards are necessary! The problem is not in having standards. The problem is using those standards as a measuring tool for ones spiritual and heart condition. None could have standards higher than the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and yet their hearts were not connected to God in any way, shape or form.

The day I learned to see my list as coming from people instead of God’s Word was the day my list took a drastic blow! It had become my basis of spirituality and God was letting me know it was not accurate. Spirituality needed to come from my heart and a direct relationship with God instead of aligning myself with the traditions of men. The Bible had to become my place from which doctrine, life style, and choices stemmed. May I never again allow others to take the responsibility of establishing a list of do’s and don’ts for me. May I possess standards that are for my good and God’s glory.

Father, there is a blindness among Your family. Please give me eyes to see the truth, ears to hear Your voice, and a heart to follow You. Amen.

Open the Eyes of My Heart - Michael W. Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.