Positive Faith in Scripture: Born Blind

“Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”

Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.”

John 9:1-4, Message

In John 9 we find a theological conflict Jesus attempted to squash several times during his ministry that still continues today. Jesus and his crew stumble upon a man born without sight and they ask him, “Is this his fault, or is he being punished for the sins of his parents?”

The connection between misfortune and spiritual performance is one many still attempt to draw today. John Piper famously delivered sermons blaming the LGBTQ+ community for Hurricane Katrina.

But, we ask the wrong question. Or, in Piper’s case, we offer the wrong explanation.

No one is to blame. There is no such cause and effect here. Look instead for what God can do.

We do not always need to spend an excruciating amount of time analyzing the past and continuing to rake ourselves, or others, over coals in order to live as faithful people. In many cases we are far better served to consider what God can do moving forward.

This is the spiritual and theological backbone of positive faith- and a thoroughly ancient Christian message:

“Your past is behind you- let’s see what God has in store as you move forward.”