On November 5, 1999 I suffered a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage. At the time it happened I was eulogizing my father’s life at his memorial service. A genetic flaw in one of the branch arteries on the top of my brain tore and pumped blood into the space between my skull and my brain. This formed a clot that became life-threatening. For seventeen days I was in the ICU center as a battle went on to save my life. I have since recovered in answer to the prayers of many around the world.
The reason I mention my near death experience is to illustrate what strongholds or blind spots are like. I was not aware that I had a life-threatening weakness. My neurosurgeons believe that it was a genetic weakness. In other words, I had lived with this unknown danger for 54 years! Suddenly, it intruded and nearly ended my life.
Spiritual blind spots operate within our lives in much the same way. We are unaware of them. We call them blind spots because we can’t see them. They usually become visible through the detrimental effects they produce in our lives.
A Biblical category for this hidden weakness phenomenon is called “strongholds.” These are hard to get hold of in our own lives although they are quite visible in the lives of others.
“Exceptionism” is the biggest category of strongholds I’ve dealt with as a pastor over the years. It has always amazed me to see how many followers of Jesus know what they should be doing but do not do it. They inevitably have an elaborate grid of excuses in place that makes their case an exception to the general rule. “You are absolutely right, Pastor,” they say. “That is what the Bible teaches. But you need to understand my situation. You see, if you could grasp what I’ve been through or how I’ve been damaged by what’s happened to me you would appreciate why I can’t function normally. I know the Christian life works for you in this area but it doesn’t work for me. My case is special.”
This is the kind of “pretension” or deceptive self-talk that hides the pocket of rebellion from our eyes. Strongholds flourish in the shadow of our egos. They take something we think we have to believe about ourselves and erect defensive walls that can be very difficult to tear down.
But they must be demolished. Whatever it takes, Jesus must reign until ALL enemy outposts are put under His feet. One of the most helpful things about working through the Christian life with others is the practice of mutual accountability. Those who know and love us can often assist us in locating and dismantling those elusive strongholds that are shrouded in the mists of our self-life.