“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:3-4).
What are the things you turn a blind eye to? Do you stick your head in the sand when it comes to the moral issues we are facing today. Is it just easier to go with the flow because everyone’s doing it?
Cambridge English Dictionary says, turning a blind eye means “to ignore something that you know is wrong.”
Macmillan Dictionary says, bury your head in the sand is to “ignore a problem or unpleasant situation.” It means hoping that it will disappear.
No doubt we all have felt this way before. Yet as God’s servants, we should not be turning a blind eye. We should not bury our heads in the sand hoping things will eventually change. Nor should we wonder when God is going to do something. He has given us the authority to be a catalyst to impact society for good.
Moral blindness is defined in Wikipedia. It is described as “a state of unawareness or insensibility to moral issues. These issues pertain both to oneself and to one’s relations to others.” With this definition in mind, does moral blindness have anything to do with spiritual blindness? As believers, should we turn a blind eye to the moral depravity and evil around us?
In Moral Blindness: The Loss of Sensitivity in Liquid Modernity the author writes, “Evil is not confined to war. It is not confined to circumstances in which people are acting under extreme duress. Today, it reveals itself more often in the everyday insensitivity to the suffering of others. Many show an inability or refusal to understand them. It is also seen in the casual turning away of one’s ethical gaze.”
Moral blindness is the worst blindness. We are horrified when we hear of many heartbreaking issues. These issues include gun violence and the housing of migrant children in poor conditions. We grieve for a brief moment, offer thoughts and prayers and eventually move on to the next thing.
Spiritual blindness is a condition that an individual has when they are incapable of seeing God, or understand His message. Although God is working all around us, pursuing us and revealing His truth, some people can’t perceive His divine workings. They hear but never understand, see but never perceive. Their heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed. (Acts 28:26–27).
To be spiritually blind can also be translated as a lack of judgment. 1 Cor. 2:14 (TPT) explains spiritual blindness this way. “Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit. They make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit.”
God does not want His people to be blind to their own spiritual condition. He also does not want them to ignore the moral condition we see each day in society. The church can make a difference when we yield ourselves as instruments of righteousness fit for the Master’s use.
Jesus opened blind eyes and unstopped deaf ears to spiritual truth (Isa. 35:5). Although we are no longer under the law, but grace, we are not to use our as instruments of unrighteousness. God holds His people accountable to the moral standards in His Word.
How do we respond to the lack of morality that we face today?
We see many Christians openly confronting the principalities of this world. They take their concerns to the streets, to Congress, and sometimes even to court. They insist on having a say in matters like abortion, gay rights, racism, and equality. Is this the right approach? Some would say yes, others say that Christians are not called to be the moral police.
As Christians, we should be known by the fruit of radical love. We should also be marked by acts of kindness and mercy. Humility and a passionate pursuit of justice (Micah 6:8) should define us. Our light should shine in the the darkness so that others can see the light of the glorious gospel. If the gospel message, the revelation of God and His grace is hidden from those who are perishing it is because (2 Cor. 4:3-4; 1 Cor. 1:18).
The Apostle Paul says, “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:1-6).
As Christians, our light should shine. This way, others see our good works. They will be drawn to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Dr. Francine
Note: All Scripture is taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
1. Batman, Zygmunt, Donskis, Leonidas, (2013), Moral Blindness: The Loss of Sensitivity in Liquid Modernity, Wiley
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