The Light of the World

I look the part, blend in with the rest of the church crowd/
I know the routine, I could list all the bible studies in town/
Watch Christian TV, I know all the preachers and their clichés/
I’ve been born again, without a doubt I know I'm saved/

I try to speak faith, never give the devil one inch to get in/
I do worship and praise, let everybody know just where that I stand/
On the back of my ride is a fish and a cross for the world to see/
I know God is good, all of the time, yes there's no doubt for me/
But sometimes I hurt, and sometimes I cry/
Sometimes I can't get it right no matter how hard I seem to try/
Sometimes I fall down, stumble over my own disguise/
I try to look strong as the whole world looks on/
But sometimes alone I cry/

                                                                ---Sometimes I Cry, as performed by Jason Crabb

To me, this song represents a fundamental part of not only Christian life, but of life for any human being.  The necessity to hide one’s true feelings, to struggle alone, to present to the world the face they expect to see, regardless of whether it is a true face or not.  But the struggle is slightly different for a Christian; slightly more….intense.

We’re taught from an early age (if you grow up in church) that Christians are “the light of the world”.  We’re supposed to point the way to Christ in a society full of darkness and evil.  It’s an epic struggle on a spiritual level that we’re not only supposed to engage in on a daily basis, but also in such a way that the rest of the world doesn’t see and think we’re completely off our rockers.  Don’t believe me?  Just try it.  Go tell a nonbeliever you’re engaged in a daily battle against the devil and see what happens.  They’ll laugh you to scorn, I guarantee it. 

I am not a supporter of going around and spilling your guts to every person who asks the question “how are you today?”, and I understand the need to speak carefully to unbelievers.  But I think most of us get the whole concept of “Light of the World” wrong in two distinct areas.

First of all, to be a light to a dying world does NOT mean refusing to interact with said world.  It does not mean acting like an untouchable superhero.  It does not mean judging their every move.  Most of all, it does NOT mean being so “perfect” they can’t relate to us at all.  Part of our light IS the reality that there is darkness in us, that we still struggle with some of the same things they do, that we are not perfect lights. Our message isn’t that Christ solves all our problems and after we get saved we are perfect.  People are not stupid.  They’ll never buy that, nor should they.  Our message is that once the spark of faith is lit, the darkness no longer holds power over us.  Our message is that God is the ultimate Light, and when we allow Him into our hearts, He shines through us, flaws and all.

Secondly, we should not have to hide this struggle from each other, from our brothers and sisters.  Those of you who are Christians understand that it can be wearing, this daily battle to live in a world that not only disagrees with us, but hates us a good majority of the time.  We really must support one another, not kick one another while we’re down.  And no, I’m not one for “CHRISTIAN UNITY!!! WE SHOULD ALL JUST AGREE AND SING KUM-BA-YA TOGETHER!!”  But I am one for supporting each other through thick and thin.  Disagreement is one thing, judgement another.  Let’s stop wounding each other, we get enough of that from the rest of the world.  It’s time we started acting like Christians—acting Christ-like—to one another as well.  Love your brother.  Support them.  Be there when they need a helping hand.  Do not judge them for their mistakes.  And always be ready to reconcile when they’ve done you wrong.

The only way we’re ever going to be a light to this world is if we are REAL.  We cannot expect the world to buy a lie.  We’re not perfect.  We’re not always happy.  We’re not even okay sometimes.  We’re not invincible, untouchable, always strong.  Face it, guys, we’re just like them.  Except for one vital difference: we have God. 

And that makes all the difference in the universe.

THAT is what they need to see.