Shining Light into Darkness

Sometimes my friends swear on my Facebook page.

And, naturally, it could make me self-conscious, or keep me on my toes, knowing that whoever “from church” that was scrolling through Facebook now knows I associate with someone who does not live every moment like Jesus Christ. Recently, I have stopped feeling the need to apologize for it.

Before I continue, I assure you this blog is not about Facebook. I’m not here to talk about complacency either. And, NO, I’m not even CLOSE to trying to tell you what is acceptable to say and what is not. I am not a Bible, but I suggest you consult one if you ever do find yourself coming to my blogs for answers on how you should live [because you’ll be broke in a month and probably somewhere in Africa.]

Rather, I’d like to highlight an issue that comes to mind every time a friend of mine has dropped a four letter bomb in the comment section of my Facebook. It’s the issue that comes up every time I don’t go home when a friend of mine starts recounting a “wild weekend.” It’s the fact that every time I get into a friend’s car with a rap song playing on the radio, I don’t plug my ears and shout, “LALALALALALA.” The issue lies in culture, the Holy Spirit, and our reaction to both.

On Sunday, Pastor Aaron mentioned the subculture of Christianity that formed after the Scopes Trial decision. Becoming of this was a collection of Christian-specific media, education, business, and overall interaction that many of us participate in. In no way is it wrong to listen to a Christian artist or buy from a Christian-based business. However, we have a tendency to abuse it, making it a fortress from the outside instead of an invitation to come in.  As Christians, we love to talk about how we are “in the world but not of it.” The problem is we often seem to forget that we are IN the world. For me, many times this comes from forgetting where my own faith comes from; within.

We should not be afraid to live in the world in which we exist. The strength and salvation of Jesus, along with the power of the Holy Spirit, dwells IN us. It is internalized in us every day we make the decision to trust and follow Him. In this way, it is possible for us (as followers of Christ) to walk in truth and righteousness. We don’t need to live in a Christian bubble. Because we have been given authority, through the gospel and the power of Christ, we can carry His presence with us regardless of our environment. If we truly believe this, we have no room to fear that living in an environment of less than holiness with less than holy people who do less than holy things will defeat our own spirits. WE have been transformed by an alive, victorious God.

It is because of this transformation that we can go boldly, just as God challenged the refugees in Jeremiah 29 to do. In verses 5-7, Jesus challenges the captives with the command,

⁵ “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. ⁶ Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! ⁷ And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare. (NLT)

Like the refugees, we are to make our homes, settle in, and make connections with the broken world around us. We are not to fear going deeper. Though we, ourselves, have not come FROM it, the world is where we are supposed to be. So let’s be present. Let’s be impactful.

No longer do I feel shame for my friends who say dirty things on the internet, or my friend who dresses a certain way, or my friend who lives a life that disobeys a God they don’t fully know yet. Rather, I have found that if things aren’t a little messy, you’ve been still for too long.

This week, I encourage you. Let’s examine our lives, and see what we have become reliant on. Is it our own “bubbles” we have created, or the Savior that lives within us? Let us go boldly, as we have been given authority to, to be a light not in more light, but in darkness.

Written by: Brianna Vanderveen

Edited by: Tamara Sturdivant