Prophesy: Exposing the Deeds of Darkness

Today we look at a third mission of the Church brought to mind by the season of Epiphany--Prophetic Outcry. While Epiphany does teach the church has a mission to reach the whole world and to tell our story in the place God, in His sovereignty, has placed us in the world, we also must embrace the mission of being salt and light in the world. The church has from its inception, and the Wesleyan Church in particular, had a ministry of prophetic outcry.

Ephesians 3.8-20
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. 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."

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 3.16-20
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men 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 his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Matthew 5.38-42
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

This weekend memorializes the contribution of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the cause of Civil Rights in the U. S. Many gatherings and memorials have been planned in coordination with the historic Inauguration Ceremonies of Tuesday. While many have championed his contributions, others memorized at least parts of his famous speech in Washington, D.C, few speak of his emphasis on non-violent resistance. This was the "Soul-force" of the movement that overcame brutal physical force. It is an idea deeply rooted in the Christian message.

Paul encouraged the Ephesians to live as children of light. The Epiphany experience had so transformed them and their living that they stopped being darkness (not just being in darkness) and were now light. Remember now that they were living in the pagan Roman Empire where sexual promiscuity, brutality and slavery were the rule. Yet, Paul insists that the now-enlightened must expose the deeds of darkness.

Jesus Himself calls us to such exposure. But first He addresses our need of continued light. We stay in the light first as an admission of our humble need of Him. No one who seeks to live as a child of light begins with exposing darkness in others. We first come into the light to have our own actions and attitudes exposed. We only shine the light on others with a humble sense of obedience not joyful, Pharisaic self-agrandizement.

Next Jesus teaches that the best way to expose the deeds of darkness is to suffer openly. If someone slaps us, we take it. We even open ourselves to additional abuse. One who would strike twice when there is no resistance shows the evil of the act. As my Grandpa would say, "Two wrongs don't make one right."

Further Jesus says we are to offer our coat to the one who wins our shirt in a lawsuit. We are to volunteer to carry the load a second mile if compelled to carry it the first. Again, our suffering patiently and non-violently the injuries of an unjust law (there really was a law forcing people to carry the load of a Roman for one mile) exposes its injustice.

This is not a call to be the doormat for bullies and tyrants. It is active, courageous life as light exposing the evil and injustice in society. It is always chosen not imposed. The freedom to act even in slave-like conditions is true liberty. The goal is always the abolition of the injustice as it collapses upon itself.

This is true soul-force. It is natural and base to ball up our fists when struck. It is natural to hurl insults when insulted. It seems logical to meet force with force.

The Church rejoices in the memory of Dr. King for he brought the power of Epiphany to our troubled society in his day. But moreso the Church rejoices in the example of our Lord, who, when reviled did not open his mouth. His willing death on the cross exposed the jealousy and injustice of those who executed The Innocent Man. And He points the way for His church to continue the Prophetic tradition He began. We must decry the wrongs in our society and be willing to suffer their injuries to bring to light the true nature of injustice and evil amongst us.

Remember Telamachus

The story is told of Telamachus, a monk in the Roman Empire after Christianity became legal and recongnized. One day he felt God calling him to go from his monestary to Rome. There he was caught up in a crowd flowing into the Arena.

Once inside Telamachus watched in horror as gladiators fought to the death. He stood to his feet and cried, "In the name of Christ, stop!" The blood-thirsty spectators shouted for him to sit down and be quiet. He continued to protest, "In the name of Christ, stop!"

Eventually, he made his way to the front row and leaped over the retaining wall and into the fighting area. He ran to the nearest two combatants and begged, "In the name of Christ, stop!" As he pleaded with them, he was struck in the side with a gladias or short sword. He fell to the sandy floor and continued to plead, in ever weakening voice, "In the name of Christ, stop." Then he was silent.

The combatants stopped. Then all in the field of conflict stopped. There, in a pool of his own blood, lay the simple monk--dead. Slowly the stands emptied of spectators as the shock of this death settled in. Then the arena was silent and empty.

They say that Honorius, the Christian emperor, was so moved by the martyrdoom of one willing to expose the evil of mortal combat for entertainment by his own death, that he soon declared them illegal. No one fought to the death to entertain the crowds in the Arena again.