We are called to be a light in the world. This is not a special calling. This is not something that is relegated to the powers of the clergy. It is not done only by professional teachers in the church, or paid activists. Being a light is not something your denomination does. Being a light in all the world doesn’t require a seminary degree, the laying on of hands, or ordination. This is not what some Christians do, while others do other things. Being a light is an essential part of what it means to be a Christian. Jesus even said that if you follow Him, you WILL have the light of life (John 8:12). What does a light do? A light is not static. A light is not idle. Light does not take part in darkness, and light also exposes darkness.
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:11
To Paul, the inverse of taking part in darkness was exposing darkness. Exposing darkness is simply what Christians do.
In the fight against abortion, abolitionists hear much criticism, and very little encouragement. Unfortunately, most of this encouragement comes by being told how great it is that we are called to fight abortion. We get plenty of pats on the back, and even a few likes on social media. Obviously there has been a huge misunderstanding. We are not calling a few “super” Christians to be activists. We are calling Christians to act like Christians. We are all called to be light in the darkness of our world. Abortion is the greatest legally done evil in our nation. No other wickedness is even close to the horror of abortion. It destroys the image of God in His creation on a scale unlike anything else. And it’s legal. We must expose this evil. We must shine a light on this darkness, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),” Ephesians 5:8-9light
Before we were followers of Christ, we did not expose evil. Now that we do follow Christ, we must expose evil. The fruit of light is not passive, it is not idle. It is the act of exposing evil. In John 11:10 we are told “if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him”.
One of the primary goals of abolitionism is to expose abortion for the evil that it is. This includes dropping cards in public, sharing links and pictures on social media, wearing the AHA, engaging friends, family, and strangers, exhorting apathetic pro-life churches to love their neighbors, engaging the culture of death at the government education centers, and finally pleading with mothers and fathers at the killing centers. By doing these things, abortion becomes increasingly exposed for what it truly is. Everyone doesn’t have to do all of these things, although most of these things are tasks all of us can do. I would contend that every believer can do at least some of these things. If we really believed what we say we believe, we would do something, and in fact, much more than we are currently doing as a community of Christians living in Norman. Unfortunately, most believers are doing nothing.
Jesus said that He was the light. We are called children of light, and all aspects of abolitionism must to be rooted in the Gospel. “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” John 3:20 If your light is not shining forth, if it is not exposing and pushing back darkness, if there is no conflict, if no one is hating you like they hated Jesus, then your light is NOT light. Scripture says that people do not put their light under a stand, but if they are Children of light, the light will shine.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15
It is clear that if you are not being faithful in being light, then you are not following after Christ. Most believers think that going to their small group (possibly even leading it), showing up for Sunday morning corporate worship (possibly even preaching or leading music), giving a tithe, raising their family, and working hard at their day job, is what it means to be light in the world. Even though these activities are good and honorable things, they are not being light to the world. You will never find conflict going to a small group, most preachers will never be hated for their exhortations, and even the world at large values working hard and raising families. “Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Luke 11:35-36
It is possible that your ordinary, complacent, church-centered, family-centered lifestyle is not light at all. Lights cannot be hidden under bushels. If you are not shining forth, waging war against darkness, and exposing the greatest deeds of darkness in our world, such as abortion, then your lifestyle is simply not light. If anything, It is darkness masquerading as light.
“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” Martin Luther
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:11
To Paul, the inverse of taking part in darkness was exposing darkness. Exposing darkness is simply what Christians do.
In the fight against abortion, abolitionists hear much criticism, and very little encouragement. Unfortunately, most of this encouragement comes by being told how great it is that we are called to fight abortion. We get plenty of pats on the back, and even a few likes on social media. Obviously there has been a huge misunderstanding. We are not calling a few “super” Christians to be activists. We are calling Christians to act like Christians. We are all called to be light in the darkness of our world. Abortion is the greatest legally done evil in our nation. No other wickedness is even close to the horror of abortion. It destroys the image of God in His creation on a scale unlike anything else. And it’s legal. We must expose this evil. We must shine a light on this darkness, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),” Ephesians 5:8-9light
Before we were followers of Christ, we did not expose evil. Now that we do follow Christ, we must expose evil. The fruit of light is not passive, it is not idle. It is the act of exposing evil. In John 11:10 we are told “if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him”.
One of the primary goals of abolitionism is to expose abortion for the evil that it is. This includes dropping cards in public, sharing links and pictures on social media, wearing the AHA, engaging friends, family, and strangers, exhorting apathetic pro-life churches to love their neighbors, engaging the culture of death at the government education centers, and finally pleading with mothers and fathers at the killing centers. By doing these things, abortion becomes increasingly exposed for what it truly is. Everyone doesn’t have to do all of these things, although most of these things are tasks all of us can do. I would contend that every believer can do at least some of these things. If we really believed what we say we believe, we would do something, and in fact, much more than we are currently doing as a community of Christians living in Norman. Unfortunately, most believers are doing nothing.
Jesus said that He was the light. We are called children of light, and all aspects of abolitionism must to be rooted in the Gospel. “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” John 3:20 If your light is not shining forth, if it is not exposing and pushing back darkness, if there is no conflict, if no one is hating you like they hated Jesus, then your light is NOT light. Scripture says that people do not put their light under a stand, but if they are Children of light, the light will shine.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15
It is clear that if you are not being faithful in being light, then you are not following after Christ. Most believers think that going to their small group (possibly even leading it), showing up for Sunday morning corporate worship (possibly even preaching or leading music), giving a tithe, raising their family, and working hard at their day job, is what it means to be light in the world. Even though these activities are good and honorable things, they are not being light to the world. You will never find conflict going to a small group, most preachers will never be hated for their exhortations, and even the world at large values working hard and raising families. “Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Luke 11:35-36
It is possible that your ordinary, complacent, church-centered, family-centered lifestyle is not light at all. Lights cannot be hidden under bushels. If you are not shining forth, waging war against darkness, and exposing the greatest deeds of darkness in our world, such as abortion, then your lifestyle is simply not light. If anything, It is darkness masquerading as light.
“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” Martin Luther
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