City Life Starter

Written by Nate Warren

The Word

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Ephesians 5:11-14 (NRSV)

Reflection

Paul tells the Ephesian believers that they should not participate in evil. This seems fitting for a people that have been rescued from evil. In the verses prior, he names a few of the general categories of evil (sexual immorality & greed/idolatry), then warns against the deception of “empty words.” These examples serve as a guide toward understanding the “unfruitful works of darkness” in this passage. Don’t do these things, guard against being deceived. This is all reasonable.

Now, Paul takes it a step further. Expose these acts. Don’t let the evil fester in secret. When the evil acts are made plain, then redemption for those involved can begin. 

Then Paul seems to quote a song or poem that was used in corporate worship among early believers in Jesus. He’s using this poem in imagining how the society of believers will be woke, resurrected, illuminated by the Truth of Christ when they have nothing to hide.

Application

We should take Paul seriously on this point. The witness of God’s New Creation depends on the holiness of His People. If we know about secret and unrepentant evils taking place amongst our brothers and sisters, then we are complicit in their actions. Paul tells us to expose these evils. We might need to spend a good bit of time in prayer to know the right way to do so. The verse right before this passage exhorts, “Discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (v10, PAR) 

I imagine also, that Paul is thinking of the prophetic tradition of God’s People. The prophets of Israel called on their society to acknowledge their wickedness and turn back to God. Jesus, too, exposed the evil in his society, declaring the religious leaders “actors! … blind guides!” (Matt 23:23-24 PAR) Empowered by the Spirit of God, saints like us are equipped to expose the evil in our society and demonstrate the alternative of Godly love and holiness. We are, after all, the “light of the world”, as Jesus proclaimed.

Prayer

Father,
May we never be complicit in affirming evil within Your Church or in our realm of influence.

Help your people to, in love and grace, expose what is evil in actions, attitudes, and words.
Do not turn us over to our ignorance, but shine on us and our society with Your revealing light.

By the will of King Jesus,
Amen