When a horse is hooked up to a plow or a wagon, the farmer will place a blinder over the head of the animal, blocking the side view and forcing the horse to look forward. This helps the horse focus on the task at hand and keep it from getting distracted by events happening on either side.

Sometimes in life it is good to have blinders on – for example, it is good to keep ourselves focused on Jesus rather than getting distracted by things of this world (i.e. wealth, fame, pride, food, etc.). However – and this is a HUGE “however” – most of the time blinders are bad.

They are bad because they are basically blind spots in our lives – places or areas that we a) either don’t know about or b) are unwilling to address.

The solution to these blinders is to have someone call out the blind spots and make them known. The “someone” could be the Holy Spirit, a friend, pastor, mentor, parent, spouse, child, family member or a stranger. In my experience it is usually a combination of all of the above…

The main question, though, is not who calls out the blind spots – the question is what we are going to do with the information. Are we going put the blinders back on and pretend that we didn’t ‘see’ anything? Ignorance, they say, is bliss.

Yet, to do this is to essentially ignore our King. We are to live in the light of Jesus and not walk around in the darkness of our own blinders and ignorance.

And yes, in case you are wondering, I do have a point in mind and it is this: if we claim to be people of the Book than we should follow the Book and stop adding/subtracting things from it.

Case in point are activities that the Bible says lead to death and pain.  Instead of staying true to what the Bible, we tend to pick and choose which activities that lead to death (i.e. sin) we like and will accept to happen in our presence. Anything that falls outside of our comfort zone is instantly dismissed as ‘evil’  – and those people who happen to be trapped in the grip of such an activity are thrown away like the garage.

Bull S*%#!!!! [insert other choice words]

It is not given to us nor anyone on the planet save Jesus the King to decided what is right or wrong. That is the responsibly of God Almighty – period. NO exception. (Remember Adam and Eve’s mistake?)

Jesus told his follows to do seven things – none of which have to do with judging others, creating a ‘sin hierarchy’, or ‘fixing’ people.

Here’s a novel thought: How about we focus on doing the things Jesus told us to do and let him deal with the rest?

“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give…. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” –Jesus, Mt 10:7-8, 22:37-39