But I refuse to have anything to do with those deities. How can we build lasting religious community, except by beginning with a solid foundation? We must begin by understanding ourselves in the chain of generations, in the present but growing from the past and extending to the future, not forever tied to this place and time. We must also begin with connection and relationship, with community. Community that includes difference, hospitality, kindness, the virtues.
It is not the raw power of the oppressor that builds nourishing community, but the power of kindness and of love. Get newsletters and updates Close. Also, send me the Pagan Newsletter and special offers. Also, send me the Pagan Newsletter. Toggle navigation. Home Archives. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Tagged with: Uncategorized children community natural theology racism Sam Wagar Wicca. Previous Post.
Next Post. Browse Our Archives. Select a Category Uncategorized. Also, send me special offers. We Owe Toxic Ancestors Nothing. John Beckett. How Not To Be a Magical Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.
When you see these two verses together you begin to understand the purpose of light and the meaning of the phrase nothing concealed will not be known. One of the purposes of light is to expose what is going on in the dark. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
There are two types of people. Those who embrace the light and run towards it and those who reject the light and run away from it. What Luke and John are telling us is that whether your deeds are good or evil, light will expose them.
What this verse really is, then, is a call that you and I should live a life filled with integrity and character, whether you are in the light or not. As Peter puts it:. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Luke brings another take on this idea of what is done in the dark. Consider these verses:. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Notice the context changes to not just what you do in the dark but even to what you say. He really does see and hear what is done in the dark. However, I want to also give an additional context here to make the point even clearer. Consider this verse:. The Pharisees had a big problem: they were hypocrites. This word in the Greek means an actor or someone who is playing a role. Let me assure you, God has no desire for you to live a life of hypocrisy—and that is why Jesus warned the disciples.
He was telling them if you try to live a life of hypocrisy, eventually, it will be exposed. Think of the many who have fallen because they allowed something to dwell in the dark that they tried to hide, but eventually came out. This is not to be judgmental, but the reason deeds in the dark can be so damaging is because it ends up hurting the cause of Christ and the message of the gospel.
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. God seeing and hearing the deeds in the dark is actually a good thing. Here are three reasons why. He is trying to produce correction that leads to repentance.
Think of it in this manner. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,. Walk as children of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true ,. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. While the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh.
For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
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