Pondering John 9:1-12

You can click HERE to read the passage.

If you could ask God any question what would you ask Him? Some people would ask Him big picture questions – like the following:

• How can a good God allow so much evil in the world?
• Why did You create people in the first place?
• Where do dinosaurs fit into the picture?
• How can one man die for the sins of the world?

Some people would ask Him questions that have to do with themselves – like the following:

• Will I ever get married?
• Why did You make me the way that I am?
• What is my purpose in this world?
• Why did You let such and such happen to me?

The disciples had opportunities to ask the Incarnate God, the Rabbi Jesus, lots of questions as they walked from place to place. In this passage they ask Him a question about why a man was born blind. They assumed that it had something to do with sin, either on his part or his parent’s part. They assumed wrong. Their assumptions were based on things they had learned from others as they grew up.

Here is the point of my pondering.There is a lot that we have been taught that may or may not be true. Things about worship. Things about heaven. Things about the end times. Things about the way we do church. Things about how to be saved. Things about discipleship. Etc. Don’t assume that everything you have been led to believe over the years  is true. Challenge every assumption. Weigh it against the Word of God. Ask questions. Have stimulating conversations about life and faith issues.

Here is an example from a conversation I had last week: The question was asked, “To what extent has our culture defined and shaped our worldview and our lifestyle?” We talked about the affluence of our country. We talked about the way we as Americans tend to spend money. We talked about the size of the houses that we live in. We talked about the millions of people who barely even have enough to eat each day. We talked about compassion and conformity. We talked about balancing a lifestyle of comfort with a lifestyle of generous giving.

It was a great conversation for a couple of reasons: 1) It went beyond the mundane topics that we typically talk about – weather, sports, health, etc. 2) It made me think about how I live. Have I chosen a lifestyle that is pleasing to God or have I conformed to the cultural standards of my community? 3) It challenged my assumptions.

May God give us the courage to ask questions that challenge our assumptions and force us to think biblically about life and culture.

“Father, I am very grateful to be an American and to live in this great country. But would you fuel me with the courage to live first and foremost as a citizen of the kingdom of God and to value the things that You value, not the things that our culture values.”

Next Week’s Passage: John 9:13-41