Readings for today: Ephesians 5-6, Titus 1-3
One of the things I’ve been asked to do over the years is intervene in churches struggling with conflict. It could be a conflict between the pastor and the board. It could be conflict over how to handle the moral failing of a leader. It could be conflict over vision and values. It could be conflict resulting from years of dysfunctional behavior. Whatever the roots of the conflict may be, the symptoms are almost always the same. Rampant distrust resulting in an inability to listen to each other. Lots of triangulation, gossip, and slander. Half-truths and sometimes outright lies. An overwhelming need to “protect” the organization or the abusive leader through NDA’s, gag orders, etc. Clandestine meetings in the parking lot after board meetings formally finish. Hard hearts that are unwilling to forgive and reconcile. A trail of victims whose concerns were ignored or dismissed. And most of it happens in the dark. Most of it is kept out of the light for fear of legal, professional, or personal exposure.
In our reading for today, the Apostle Paul encourages us to “walk as children of light…and take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.” (Eph. 1:8, 11) He tells us that the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true while the fruit of darkness brings one under the judgment of God. He challenges us to seek what is “pleasing to the Lord” rather than compromise our convictions by doing what is expedient to limit our exposure. He reminds us that once we walked in darkness. Once we walked in ignorance. Once we had no inheritance in the Kingdom of God because we were enslaved to sin. But now we are the “light of the Lord.” Now we serve as God’s representatives in the world and our lives should be a reflection of His light and love and glory.
I know so many who are walking in darkness. They do shameful things in secret that they hide from those they love. They are double-minded, trying to keep a foot in God’s world while maintaining a foothold in this world. They want it both ways. I know so many churches who are walking in darkness. They make shameful decisions in secret that they hide from their congregation. They refuse to come clean out of a desire to keep everyone “safe” or maintain the “peace.” They are double-minded, paying lip service to God while managing their affairs according to the ways of this world. They want it both ways. I know so many pastors who are walking in darkness. They do shameful things in secret that they hide beneath their public persona. They are double-minded, wanting the blessings of both heaven AND earth. They want it both ways.
God calls us to a narrow way. God calls us to a higher way. God calls us to His way. There is no other path by which we may be saved. We must be imitators of God in all we say and do. We must walk in love and light and reject the works of darkness utterly and completely. We must offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. We must seek each day to discern what is pleasing to the Lord and then do it. This is what it means for us to awake from our slumber and rise from the dead.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Timothy 1-6