PreachingHelp.org At dusk, a candle has very little value; it’s at midnight when a candle is most effective. It’s for this reason Christians need to quit despairing about the fallenness of our culture. It is now, when our society is engulfed in moral darkness, that we, as lights to the world, can have our greatest impact for the kingdom of God (Matthew 5:16)!
If we could keep from despairing at the immorality and injustice we see and instead see the opportunities surrounding us, we wouldn’t be defeated but energized by the possibilities!
May I offer the following suggestions that will shine a bright light in the midst of the darkness of evil?
- Rally around, defend, speak up for, and show compassion to those who are harassed and mistreated (Matthew 9:26).
- Champion the worth of all men (2 Peter 3:9).
- Suffer for the sake of peace (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
- Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
- Reject “selective outrage.” Don’t just oppose error and crime when those outside of your race or political party commit it, but be just as outraged when committed within your race and political party (Romans 2:1).
- And maybe, above all, maintain your balance lest you lose your moral voice and influence. I once knew a preacher who couldn’t talk for ten minutes without bringing up the doctrine of church discipline and how it had been ignored by many congregations. He was right, but he became obsessed with this single issue in private conversation and public preaching. This single doctrine became his “litmus test” of faithfulness, and consequently, he was fired from one church after another, not because he taught error but because he lacked balance and lost his influence.
Likewise, today, there are many moral wrongs in our culture. The church MUST rise up and speak against them, but at the same time, maintain her balance. Whether it be church discipline, racism, homosexuality, abortion, divorce, etc., if we get out of balance, we will lose our moral voice and cease to be lights to the world.
Jesus lived under a terribly unjust and immoral government but did not obsess with cursing the darkness; rather, he balanced his condemnation of injustice with being a light to the world, a light that illuminated the path to a heavenly kingdom in which love, peace, and justice always prevail among its citizens.
May God help us to be balanced and in this time of darkness, be lights unto the world (Philippians 2:15). May we use this present darkness as an opportunity for the church to be the church and to illuminate a path to a heavenly citizenship wherein justice, love, and peace reign!
Thanks Steve for the positive and excellent advise for these trying and scrambled times of unrest and moral question abundant, can this be shared on facebook, thanks again, God bless!
Hey Steve, I like the balanced approach to being a light. What you made me think, though, is that preachers must allow their congregations to dictate which sermons they are accepting of. Surely, the issue of church discipline is tough in contemporary America, as is the subject of New Testament offering of money. I hate to think that the anonymous preacher you referenced here was rejected for giving a lesson his congregation really needed to hear and obey. Perhaps a different route of thought than you intended, but one you, too, might appreciate hearing. Great post, anyway. God bless!
Hello there, thanks for you reply. I am not sure I understand what you’re trying to say, but let me offer a couple thoughts, and if I am missing your point, you can respond and help me better understand. First, I would not agree that a preacher must allow the congregation to dictate his sermon selection (if that is what you were actually saying). A preacher’s sermons are dictated by God, and he must give care to present the whole counsel of God, and leave nothing unsaid that is profitable to the congregation’s salvation. Secondly, the preacher I mentioned by way of illustration was not fired from any congregation for preaching on the topic of discipline. He was fired for his lack of balance. Hope that helps. As I said, I may have misunderstood the point you were making, and if I did, please feel free to reply.