Ephesians 5:11-14: Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you."
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:13)
Jesus is the source of true spiritual life, but as his covenant children, he lives in us through the Holy Spirit. We are to radiate and to reflect his light into a dark world. The way of God is the way of light. The path of sin and selfishness is the way of darkness.
In verse eight of this fifth chapter Paul told the church that they were once darkness in their days before Christ, but now they are light in the Lord. He then commanded the church at Ephesus to live as children of the light.
In today's text Paul instructs the church to have nothing to do with the works of darkness. Rather, Paul instructs the church to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness. He said that light makes everything visible.
What does Paul mean by his command to expose the deeds of darkness? Does he mean that the church is to publicize every sin? If you discover your next door neighbor is involved in an adulterous relationship, are you supposed to tell his spouse and everyone in the neighborhood? I don't think that is what Paul meant.
My interpretation of Paul's command in verse 11 is two fold. First of all, the church should walk in the light. Walking in the light of Jesus Christ requires that the church walk in the holiness of God. But, you can't walk in the light of his holiness without also walking in the light of his love. The church must walk in the light and uphold a standard of holiness, but we must do so in the love of God without a spirit of arrogance and self-righteousness. When the church chooses to truly walk in the light of Jesus Christ, then that light will expose the fruitless deeds of darkness in the world.
It often seems difficult for the church to uphold a standard of holiness and righteousness in the love of God. Many Christians seem to find it easy to hate evil, but while hating evil, they also seem to find it easy to hate the sinner as well. The church must uphold the standard of holiness and righteousness, while clearly communicating to the world the preeminent message of God's sacrificial love for every person on this planet.
The prophet Isaiah said, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5:20)
Certainly, there are those in today's society who call evil good. Some think it is good for a woman to have the right to murder her baby. Some think it is good for men to be married to men, and for women to be married to women. Some think it is good to allow the full satisfaction of their sexual appetites. Even some churches, who purport to be Christians, are condoning activity that clearly violates the explicit teaching of the Word of God.
As a Christian you should continue to do your part to uphold a standard of righteousness and holiness in the darkness of modern culture. However, do so in the love of God. Keep the message of redemption at the forefront of your thinking. For what will it profit if we speak out against the sin, but lose the sinners to eternal damnation?
Remember the exhortation of Paul found in Galatians 6:1 when it becomes appropriate for you to deal with a brother or sister in Christ, who has fallen into the snare of evil. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
God's heart is to redeem and restore. But do so in gentleness remembering that if you allow your attitude to become haughty, you might find yourself ensnared in sin as well.
So, first of all the church should walk in the light upholding God's standard of holiness and righteousness, but also demonstrating his heart of love by always seeking opportunity to minister God's redemptive grace. God wants the church to be an instrument of reconciliation, not of wrath.
I think the second way we can expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness is to allow the light of Jesus Christ to regularly search our own hearts. It is the extremely rare believer who doesn't still have hidden pockets of darkness in his own heart.
Certainly, it is possible for a believer to take this idea too far. Some could become obsessed with finding every sin in his own heart, and forget that there is a dying world, that is lost and desperately needs to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not encouraging that type of behavior at all. Don't become focused on youself. Focus on God and the world that he loves and wants you to love as well.
However, it would be healthy for you on occasion to simply pray, "Father, if there is any hidden sin in my own heart, please bring it to my attention in your gentleness by the Holy Spirit, so I can repent of that sin. I want my heart to be holy, even as you are holy, and I don't want any hindrances to the flow of the love of God in my heart. I offer this prayer in Jesus name."
If you are brave and courageous and serious, then pray that prayer on occasion, and then leave it up to the Holy Spirit to bring things to your attention. If you really mean business with God, I assure you this is a prayer that God will answer.
Several years ago my friend, Dr. Stephen Johnson, ministered in Mississippi at the church that I pastored. One night there was a strong move of the Holy Spirit. During that service the Holy Spirit revealed to me that there was bitterness in my heart toward someone. I was not even aware that bitterness existed in my heart. But in the presence of that strong anointing of the Holy Spirit, the light of God revealed darkness in my own heart. I repented of that bitterness and received God's forgiveness.
Remember the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3-4)
Walk in the light. Focus on God. As you do so, God will have the opportunity from time to time to reveal to you the darkness of your own heart. Then the church will be more holy, and the church will be more effective in ministering the love of God to a lost and dying world.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org