In churches across continents, something tragic yet invisible is creeping through the four walls of the church—a silent darkness, not of the absence of sight but of divine perception. The modern church is facing an epidemic not easily diagnosed by doctors or seen with physical eyes: spiritual blindness. And alarmingly, both youths and adults are caught in its snare, dimming the light that once defined the very essence of faith.
Bishop David Oyedepo, once declared, “A man that cannot see what God is doing is blind, even if he sees with his eyes.” His words ring truer now than ever. In a generation flooded with information, spiritual discernment is ironically rare. The church is growing numerically, but many within it are blind to truth, deaf to conviction, and numb to divine direction.
The Apostle Paul spoke prophetically in 2 Corinthians 4:4, saying, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not.” Today, this scripture manifests vividly in the lives of many churchgoers who attend services religiously, yet walk away unchanged. Spiritual rituals have replaced genuine revelation. Emotional entertainment has become a substitute for eternal enlightenment.
Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams of Ghana laments, “We are raising a generation that can sing to God, but cannot hear from Him.” The result is a Church filled with activity but lacking authority. Young people chase trends, not truth. Adults cling to tradition, not transformation. And in this fog of religious routine, the eyes of the spirit remain shut.
The tragedy of spiritual blindness lies in its subtlety. Blindness, when physical, is obvious and pitiful. But spiritual blindness is deceptive; it masquerades as piety, it mimics sound doctrine, and it thrives in noise. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees not for their lack of religion but for their abundance of it without revelation. “They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).
Prophet TB Joshua, of blessed memory, says: “There are many voices, which one are you hearing?” He often warned, “Many are hearing from God, but few are listening. The Word must be revealed by the Spirit.”_ This is the missing link. In many churches, sermons are preached, prayers are raised, yet lives remain on autopilot. A clouded heart cannot see the hand of God, even when it is stretched forth.
Globally, many revivalists echo this call. Pastor Enoch Adeboye once remarked, “The greatest healing God can give a man is not healing from cancer, but the opening of his spiritual eyes.” A man healed physically may still walk into destruction. But one whose inner eyes are opened will escape every snare.
What then is the cause of this darkness? The noise of digital distraction? The idol of success that now sits on altars? The doctrine of convenience that asks for no sacrifice? All these and more have dimmed the inner eyes of believers. The youth are taught how to “speak in tongues” but not how to interpret God’s voice. Adults attend vigils yet ignore visions. It is not a lack of light, but a lack of hunger for it.
Jesus healed Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, not because He pitied him, but because the man cried out. Today, few are crying out for sight. The church must return to apostolic hunger. Like Elisha prayed for his servant, we must plead again: “Lord, open his eyes that he may see.”
The late Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke once thundered, “Christianity without the Holy Spirit is like a lamp without oil.” And many today, youth and adults alike, are trying to shine with dry lamps. Until there is a return to the altar of brokenness and revelation, spiritual blindness will remain the church’s hidden pandemic.
The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:2). This promise remains. The solution is not in better programs, but in brighter perception. Only divine light can cure spiritual blindness.
In this hour, the Spirit is calling out—not just for preachers to speak louder, but for hearts to see deeper. May the veil be torn again. May the church rise, not with opened Bibles alone, but with opened eyes.
Until then, the pews may be full, but the hearts remain blind.
And when the light fades, what remains is merely a crowd in the dark.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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