5 Symptoms of Spiritual Blindness and Solutions
I’m on a mission to identify the symptoms of spiritual blindness and make changes. You probably feel the same way. But what is spiritual blindness?
Do you ever read a Bible passage and think you know everything there is to know about it? Maybe you flirt with sin often and now it’s no longer a big deal (see my book, Bad Seeds). In this post, I’m referring to spiritually-blind Christians, not unbelievers that haven’t accepted Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:4).
You can be saved and hear God’s truth with your ears. If it doesn’t reach your heart, you fail to believe that the Word is true and can’t apply its message to your life. You came out of the darkness but it’s possible to remain there if you choose.
Ephesians 5:8-9
For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] (for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth).
Matthew 6:22-23
“The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. 23 But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!”
Let’s take a closer look at this perplexing spiritual malady.
Causes of Spiritual Blindness
Spiritually-blind disciples surrounded Jesus.
Matthew 16:5-12
When the disciples reached the other side of the sea, they realized that they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch out and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves that you have no bread? Do you still not understand or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many large baskets you picked up?
How is it that you fail to understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the [false] teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Why were they stone blind and visionless after living in God’s presence day after day?
5 Symptoms of Spiritual Blindness in Christians
- Pride: How often have you witnessed broken fellowship among believers.? I’m guessing more that you like. When Christians split hairs about doctrine (set of beliefs) and let that separate them, that’s spiritual blindness and pride. Any time you hear something that sounds different, let the Holy Spirit guide you to look deeper into God’s Word to reveal His truth. Why argue with someone if they’re wrong or right? Let the Holy Spirit teach them as He taught you. If you think you have super spiritual sight, you probably don’t!
- Rebellion: At the heart of spiritual blindness is a person who doesn’t see God as a priority. What’s important to them is how to further their own plan. They refuse to surrender to God.
- Sin: Spiritual awareness dulls when a person is enthralled with sinful pleasure. Adam and Eve were spiritual giants until they ate the fruit. David let his flesh rule so that he took Bathsheba as his and could no longer judge between right and wrong. Become spiritually blind and you will commit sins you never dreamed possible.
- Religion: Being religious has nothing to do with being spiritual. Years ago I transitioned from religion to relationship. Now, God is personal, real, and approachable.
- Fear: Satan loves to turn faith into fear. He whispers “what-ifs” so you lose sight of God and His promises. You counteract Satan’s deceit by speaking scripture OUT LOUD. It puts him on the run especially if you add, “in the name of Jesus.”
Use those 5 symptoms to reveal what’s in your heart and then go to work to improve spiritual discernment.
Solutions on How to Overcome Spiritual Blindness
Once you know the symptoms of spiritual blindness, you can stay clear of it.
- Read, listen to the Word and expect to hear something new. The Pharisees heard Jesus’ words but they didn’t take them to heart indicating the soil of their hearts wasn’t fertile. Jesus called them blind guides.
- Apply the Word to your life and circumstances. Any time I don’t have answers, I ask God to change me. It’s a slow process of hearing and doing what He says.
- Be honest about your spiritual condition—the Pharisees weren’t. John 9:41: Jesus said to them, “If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain. They centered on other things (prestige, position, power, etc.) instead of looking inside themselves.
- Don’t create your own theology. Know who you are in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. If scripture offends you, you’re on the wrong side of Christianity. Watch out for instances when you respond to Holy Spirit convictions by going in the wrong direction and turning away from God.
- Hate darkness. When a believer doesn’t want more of God, they stagnate and drift further away from Him. You choose whether to stay in God’s light or Satan’s darkness.
- Long for more of God. He always has more for His children. It’s up to us to find out what that is.
- Be aware of ungodly influencers in your life such as people, things, a job, etc.
- Be quick to forgive others and repent from sin. You hear God quicker when you have a soft and pliable heart.
- Look for areas in your life where you let Satan waltz in. Given the chance, he brings in pride, fear, worry, and anything meant to harm and blind you to God’s truth.
Keep Pursuing God
On any day with what Christians face, it’s easier to quit and wait for Jesus’ return. Since you now know the symptoms of spiritual blindness and the solutions, you’re closer to having spiritual sight.
Lately, it seems that the answer to all spiritual problems is to keep my eyes on Jesus. That’s so simple but it works! I can’t let tunnel vision strip me of spiritual sight which comes through the Holy Spirit.
That means I keep praying, believing, repenting, and looking upward. Like Jesus, I say, “Your will not mine.”