So the question was presented tonight. King of a musing question. And yet rhetorical, too.
I mean, obviously you can't huddle in a dark corner, embracing the darkness, yet reach and grasp for the light. You can only pursue one while the other vanishes during pursuit. And you "risk" being engulfed by that which you pursue until you change your mind.
For more specific examples:
Can/Should one become a druggie to be able to reach the druggies for Christ?
Can/should one become a drunkard to be able to reach the drunkards for Christ?
Can/should one become a thief or murderer to reach thieves and murderers for Christ?
Can/should one become a liar to reach liars;
or gossipers to reach gossipers?
Obviously, not. But, can one reach a druggie having already been a druggie and released from the darkness of addiction to the light of Christ? Yes. Should one embrace the darkness to share the light of Christ?
Before you say yes, whether you thought it briefly or not, think about it.
Can you really embrace the darkness, let it be a part of your thinking, your actions, your "love" and yet maintain a grasp of the light of God to be able to show others Jesus?
Can you put on a cloak of darkness (which, by the way, doesn't simply rest on your body, but sinks into your skin and integrates into you.) onto your shoulders, bottle the light of Christ, and then once you connect to the darkness of others you pull out are bottle of light?
It doesn't work like that. Light and darkness do not coexist. Darkness is the absence of the light. So, when you are embracing the darkness, you are forsaking the light.
Sure you can theoretically say the light is just a few steps behind, and you can announce it to others that it is there, but why would they follow you to the light you don't even cherish enough to keep with you?
It is possible to carry the light into the darkness, but not when you are embracing the darkness.
Embrace the darkness, and the light disappears.
Embrace the light, and the darkness disappears.
You can't cover yourself in darkness to lure the darkness to the light.
As the sermon tonight illustrated how one can witness using his own testimony and background, being freed from the darkness and embracing the light can be used as background and testimony to those who are in the same darkness you were.
But you can't be presently in the darkness and expect others to follow you to the light that you claim to be waiting for them.
Rom 13:12-14 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
Gal. 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
~Written in godly love~
-Kevin
Jeremiah 12:1-2
ReplyDelete1Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
2Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
Didn't hear the sermon so not sure if that fits what your thinking but when I see some one "embracing the darkness" but talking God I think of those verse because although they talk God you don't see God having control of their lifes.
As the Lord says: Matthew 7 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Do things God's way or prepare to pay.
A very challenging thought, Kevin. A lot of people might think that you need to become like someone else to reach them, but God says that we are lights unto the world, bringing His gospel of light and love.
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