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LIGHT (continued) – Garbage In, Garbage Out!

This is the continuation from the previous post based on John 9 (the story of the man “born blind.” 

Jesus and the disciples pass by a man blind since birth. The disciples ask Jesus a question – a question based on their G.I.G.O. theological premise (“Garbage In, Garbage Out.”)

This is a stinking thinking, twisted theological premises that says good things happen to good people, while bad things happen to bad people.  If you are experiencing blessings, it’s because God owes you.  It’s based on the notion that says, “God sure is lucky to have a gal or guy like me on his side!”

If things aren’t going to well – if you are having problems, heartaches, pain, sorrow, suffering or grief – it is because God is paying you back for your evil deeds.  G.I.G.O. – “Garbage In, Garbage Out.”

People today are way too sophisticated to think in such twisted terms in our day, right?  Not really! 

People come to me regularly presenting a problem and asking the question:  “What did I do to deserve this kind of treatment from God?” 

People come to me regularly observing the hardship of another, saying:  “They must have done something awful to cause God to allow that to happen.

People today are way too sophisticated to think in such twisted terms in our day, right?   Not really!  Far too often I find myself up late at night, dealing with some level of stress that is beyond by control, while praying to God, saying: “Why?  What did I do to deserve this?”

We can sit here all day thinking we are way too sophisticated to think God acts this way.  But when the trials, troubles, and tribulations come our way, we often find ourselves slipping back into the dark ages, slipping into this stinking thinking G.I.G.O. theology that says, “If something bad is happening to you it is because God has struck you down for some sinful thought or action.

“Rabbi, who sinned? This man or his parents?”

Jesus immediately goes to work to rip this theology to shreds, saying: “Neither this man nor his parent’s sin caused this blindness. His blindness is so the work of God might be made manifest.”

Jesus clarifies the connection between sin and suffering: All sin brings suffering, yes; but not all suffering comes from sin. And then he goes another step. Jesus teaches that our weakness and sickness can become an occasion for the miraculous deeds of God to take place in our life.   

The Apostle Paul spoke about the power of God being made real in and trough our weakness.  Paul would know.  Most biblical scholars think that later in his ministry Paul suffers from a serious visual impairment.

Our blindness (our weakness) can become the occasion of miraculous new sight.

“I am the light of the world!” Jesus said to the man.

Then he spat on the ground, made clay of earth and spit, and anointed the man’s eyes.

“Go wash in the pool of Siloam,” he said. 

The man washed and came back seeing.


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