Dangerous Assumptions

Have you ever made and assumption about something that not only turned out to be wrong but actually turned into instant regret?

Several years ago, I attended an upscale dinner at church. I can't recall the exact occasion, but what happened that night will haunt me forever.

I made an assumption that cost me dearly.

Everything was already set up when we arrived - salad plates on the table, and a large plate of vanilla pudding for dessert, placed just above the salad. I was so excited to try the pudding, as it had been a long time since I had last eaten vanilla pudding.

However, instead of doing what I usually do at these events (Eat Desert First) I decided to be good and wait until after the main course.

After finishing the main course, I couldn't wait to dig into the pudding. All during the meal I had made a big deal out of telling those sitting with me how much I was looking forward to digging into this Vanilla Pudding. They found my excitement funny, but I didn't care - I was like a kid in a candy shop..little did I know the sinister reason behind their laughter.

As soon as I took a big bite, I heard gasps and giggles around the table. It was then that I realized I had made a deadly mistake - what I had put in my mouth was not delicious vanilla pudding, but poisonous banana pudding!

Everyone at the table knew it, except for me. Now that I look back I remember seeing people watch me with a grin or a smile just waiting for me to bite into this horrible substance....

I immediately cut ties with everyone at the table, went to the hospital to get my stomach pumped, and learned to never trust people or light-colored pudding again.

Moral of the story: Never Assume light colored pudding is vanilla pudding!

We all understand the consequences of bad assumptions…whether it is assuming you have enough gas to get to the next stop or whether you assume you know what your spouse is thinking only to find out they were not thinking at all.

No matter the situations....

Bad Assumptions Lead to Unproductive Outcomes.

Assumptions are ideas or beliefs that are taken for granted, without any proof or evidence to support it.

Assumptions are based on personal experiences, biases, or stereotypes, and they can be made consciously or unconsciously…

Bottom line...Assumptions are never based on fact and becuase of that they almost always lead to wrong conclusions.

On a Spiritual level….

Assumptions are Blindfolds that keep us from seeing and experiencing Holy Spirit’s perfect intention for us and the world.

John 9 Tells the story of Jesus healing a man who was born blind. As Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the man and his disciples asked whether the man's blindness was a result of his own sin or the sin of his parents.

Right Away we see an Assumption made by the disciples and frankly every other person in society at that time.

It was a widely held belief during this time that if someone was disabled in some way they somehow deserved it…

Truth be told this is still somewhat of a reality today….if your poor, or if your life is messed up somehow you caused it…While this is true sometimes it is not always the case.

Jesus responded that neither the man nor his parents had sinned, but that the man's blindness would allow the works of God to be displayed through him…

Jesus response to infirmity was not to pile on but to remove the infirmity.

Jesus then spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud on the man's eyes, telling him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man did as Jesus instructed and was able to see for the first time in his life.

You can imagine the talk that this generated among the people.

Some argued that Jesus was a sinner for performing such a miracle on the Sabbath day.

Others were amazed by the miracle and wondered whether Jesus was a prophet.

The Pharisees, who were skeptical of Jesus, interrogated the man and his parents, trying to find evidence to discredit Jesus. Because Jesus must be a sinner since he healed on Sabbath..(2nd Bad Assumption)

Despite the Pharisees' efforts, the man who had been blind was adamant that Jesus was a prophet and had healed him.

The Pharisees became angry and excommunicated him from the synagogue. Jesus later found the man and revealed himself not as a prophet but as the Son of God, and the man believed in him.

After this we see that:

Jesus Confronts Assumptions with Truth

The story ends with Jesus condemning the Pharisees for their spiritual blindness and declaring that those who recognize their own blindness will be able to see, while those who claim to see will remain blind.

New Living Translation (Chapter 9)

35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”

37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” (Jesus did the Same with the women at the well)

38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.

39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”

41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

God is not judging the Pharisees on their ignorance he is judging them on their knowlege. And their refusal to see Jesus clearly.

This passage reminds us of the dangers of assumptions that can lead us to judge and exclude others. They a an also lead people who believe they are close to Jesus farther away from Jesus.

While we think we are protecting our Spiritual health by making these assumptions...we are actually sabotaging our own Spiritual Development.

When we followJesus' example and reach out to those who are marginalized and excluded we are not just doing a good deed but we are also allowing Holy Spirit to develop our personal spiritual health.

In this story, the blind man was shunned by the community, but Jesus saw him and healed him as way to reconcile him to the community that had shunned him because of his infirmity.

In short Jesus ignored the assumptions in order to heal and eventually save the Blind man.

Jesus Still ignores assumptions and encourages us to grow in our spiritual walk by doing the same.

Become a conduit of Salvation.

Examine your assumptions: Take some time to reflect on the assumptions that you make in your daily life. Are there any assumptions that you have made that may not be accurate? Think about how these assumptions may be affecting your life and relationships.

Seek the truth: Instead of making assumptions, try to seek out the truth in situations. Ask questions, listen carefully, and gather evidence before making conclusions. This will help you make more informed decisions and avoid misunderstandings.

Challenge assumptions: When you hear someone making an assumption, don't be afraid to challenge it. Ask questions and encourage them to seek out the truth. This can help prevent misunderstandings and promote healthy communication.

Practice empathy: Instead of making assumptions about other people's intentions or motives, try to put yourself in their shoes and practice empathy. This can help you understand their perspective and avoid misunderstandings.

Let go of assumptions: Finally, learn to let go of assumptions that are no longer serving you. Holding onto outdated assumptions can prevent you from growing and learning. By letting go of these assumptions, you can open yourself up to new experiences and perspectives.

When our lives are free from assigning negative assumptions to people we are free to live in victory….

Today this is exactly what those who are going to be baptized are doing…they are igonoring the assumptions of the world to be free.

Just as the blind man in the story was healed and brought into the community of believers, those being baptized today are making a public declaration of their faith in Jesus and their desire to be a part of His community.

As we witness this baptism, it is important to remember that baptism is a symbol of a person's commitment to follow Jesus and to live a life that reflects His teachings.

It is a public declaration of one's faith in Jesus and a desire to live according to His will.

Each one of these people will have a story…each one of them will share how Jesus reached out to them and saved them…

BAPTIZE HERE…INVITE OTHERS AFTER.

If you have never made a commitment to follow Jesus or have not yet been baptized, I would encourage you to consider doing so. It is a powerful way to declare your faith and to show your desire to follow Jesus.

Jesus came to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.

As we witness these baptisms today, let us all reflect on our own spiritual journey and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in our own commitment to follow Jesus.