Blind Spots

Remember when you were learning how to drive a car and were told to “make sure you check your blind spots” before doing something as simple as changing lanes? Those areas slightly behind us and to our sides are hard to see in our mirrors, so we have to make a concerted effort to quickly turn our head to ensure no other vehicles are occupying that space, before we change lanes. Otherwise the outcome is going to make for a bad day or worse.

It’s odd to me that with two side-view mirrors and one rear-view mirror, we still can’t see an area around us that is large enough to fit an entire car.

Blind spots aren’t just limited to our cars. A quick recap of history has certainly proven that even when we are not in our cars, we have blind spots.

Consider a few of these examples…

During the Spanish Inquisition in the late 1400’s, the church expelled Jews and Muslims from a multicultural Spain because they wanted to ensure the orthodoxy of their religion and blamed the Black Death (Plague) on the Jews.  As a result, many Jews and Muslims were tortured and killed because they refused to be baptized by the Church.

Slavery dates back thousands of years, even in the church.  While even some forms of slavery still exist today, most people the world over would agree that slavery is inhumane.  Slavery in America wasn’t abolished until the Thirteenth Amendment was signed in 1865. Even after that date, racial segregation was very real and tensions still exist today.

Or how about the Apartheid era in South Africa from 1948 to 1994 was a time when the church supported a movement of racial segregation, creating a nation of violence, repression, and imprisonment.

In each of these examples the church played a significant part in starting or enabling these horrible periods in history. Though during those periods they believed in the cause they were supporting, we can look back at them now and clearly say these were probably not what Jesus was telling us when He said:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

We all have blind spots in our culture today. I hope one day soon, humanity will look back on abortion and say that allowing unborn children to be murdered was a blind spot.

Identifying blind spots in our lives is a very difficult task. Not only is it hard to identify them, but if you do, it’s very likely you’ll encounter resistance from culture (not to mention our own hearts).

Here’s another example:

Could the American Christian Church say that owning $230 Billion* in buildings and land is justified, while millions of people around the globe die of starvation and preventable disease every year? 

Conservative estimates are that it would require $30 Billion (US) to feed every starving person on this planet for a year… I’m not “anti-church” or saying church buildings are bad. I’m simply asking the question: what is really important to the church?

The Bible never once instructs the church to build actual buildings or temples, but more than 300 times tells us to care for the poor.  Again, I’m not against the church having buildings, I’m just asking the question… Could this be a blind spot?

To take it a step further, we all have blind spots in our own lives. I certainly do.

How many of us think looking at pornography is harmless, I can think back into my own life. I thought looking at pornography was harmless, just “stuff” on the internet.  If it was harming anyone it was me, in my own sin.  During that time not only was my life walking away from Christ instead of towards Him, I was ignorant to the fact that that every time I clicked one of those websites I was supporting women being sex trafficked.  Here’s a great video explaining more about that topic if you’re interested.

Another Blind Spot Identified!

You can probably think back into your own life and consider mistakes you have made, thinking they were harmless or even for the betterment of humanity.  As you look back, you’re seeing past blind spots.

Even today, I still have blind spots. I don’t know it because I can’t see them but others can. I just don’t know what I don’t know.  This is where discipleship comes in.

Discipleship is an often-used word in the church, but is it really being done?

In John 15, Jesus teaches His disciples that He is the vine and we are the branches.

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2

It’s imperative that we disciple each other, ensuring that we are bearing fruit and attached to the vine (Jesus) in all areas of our lives. We must be open to being pruned and be willing to prune each other. For me, this seems like Jesus’ solution to blind spots.

If you are not intentionally making a disciple, and being discipled, let me encourage you today to step out.  This will not only build some of the deepest relationships you’ll ever have, but will help you to identify your own personal blind spots.

Here are some practical keys to discipleship.

1.     Identify a brother or sister in Christ whom you look up to and respect. They don’t have to be older than you but consider “who do I know that looks most like the Jesus I read about, when I read my Bible?”

2.     Be Intentional. Put it on the calendar.  Don’t be wishy-washy about trying to get together. Make it firm and do it regularly.

3.     Step out. In order for discipleship to be effective, you must be willing to do uncomfortable things. Be Vulnerable, Pray together, Confess sin, Keep each other accountable, Find a way to serve others together!

4.     Read the Bible together, out loud if you can (Romans 10:9, Revelation 1:3)

Nothing sharpens like God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12). 

5.     Pray for each other.  Prayer is one of the most important aspects of any mentoring relationship. Do it live, out loud, and in front of each other. For some of you this will be very uncomfortable. Relax, you are in a safe place with someone who knows exactly how you feel! It becomes easier, I promise!

We all have blind spots. We just don’t know what they are because we can’t see them ourselves, and we need each other to help us to look more like Jesus.

Step out! Be Discipled! Make Disciples!

*From a NCLF study conducted in 2013 showing that the American church would NET $230 Billion (US) if they sold all of their buildings and land, and after all debts were paid.