The Bible Matters Because _______________. Shembull

Letting the Light Out

By American Bible Society

If we spend any time in church, we’re likely to hear the term “broken world.” So much of what we encounter in life and in ourselves is corrupt, decaying, plagued by death and sadness. And it’s not only preachers who diagnose the problem. Poet William Blake wrote about wandering city streets, seeing in each passing pedestrian’s face “marks of weakness, marks of woe.” T.S. Eliot imagined people lined against the wall of a subway, “filled with fancies and empty of meaning.”

Christians are not immune to brokenness. Often our relationships are fractured, characterized by complaining and arguing. In this letter, Paul reminds his readers that they need to be lights in a world of darkness and brokenness. His reminder is stern—a lot is at stake. He wants them to realize that they have the ability to contribute to the darkness or to dispel it. 

We contribute to the brokenness by grumbling and arguing about what other believers are doing wrong. The destructive pride of “at least I’m not like that person” happens most insidiously within our own communities of faith. 

But our common work is to be light in the darkness.

So, what is this light that is supposed to be shining in a world marred by loss, deception, and waste? 

The light is the message of grace itself. Glance at the verses again. The reason we have this light to give is that we’re children of God. We’ve been adopted through this word, and now are entrusted with this word. 

What does the word of life look like when it’s not printed on a page or screen? It looks like Jesus emptying and giving himself for us. Paul has spelled it out in the preceding verses: be unified; be humble; think of other people’s best interests, love each other. Here is light not only illuminating, but encroaching on and chasing out the darkness. This is God’s presence in the world. 

We need to learn this message in our bones, in our habits. The more we internalize the Bible’s message, the more we can admit our own brokenness. Christ emptied himself; now he fills us with his word. And that message of grace shines through our shortcomings. When we’re sincere and transparent with others—even in our weakness—we let out Christ’s light to others.