Holy People in a Dark World

Scripture

Phil. 2:14   Do all things without murmuring and arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. ¹⁶ It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 

Observation

Paul continues his letter to the Philippians. His heart has been troubled by their arguing and murmuring, but he has laid before them the source and the pattern. Jesus is the source into whom they are all to be connected, having the same mind that is in Christ Jesus. Being connected to the source, the pattern of Jesus is to flow directly from their lives. Therefore, they are to live the pattern of Jesus in the world. 

If they truly have the mind of Christ, there will be no murmuring or arguing among the members of the church. The language here harkens back to the children of Israel as they complained in the wilderness. Often not seeing the full picture, they spent much of their time murmuring about their circumstances. The problem with the grumbling in Philippi was that it stained their Christian witness. It was a pattern of grumbling that betrayed their trust in God. Only as they were united in Christ could they then shine as God’s holy people in the world. 

The world was twisted where wrong seemed right, and right was deemed as wrong. The Roman colony of Philippi was a hotbed for pagan worship and many different beliefs. God’s holy people were to shine as light-bearers in the midst of a dark world. The light of Christ was to be reflected out into the world. The ways of the world were not the solution, but the light of Christ was. The darkness of the world was to be illuminated by the presence of the Christians who would brighten an otherwise dark sky. 

Application

The world is not that different today from the Roman colony of Philippi. Outside forces compete for power and influence resulting in complaint, gossip and arguing, all of which gives the world a false impression about Jesus and the Good News. We are to be united around our belief in Jesus Christ and our trust in Him. If we are arguing and fighting, then we are missing out on the unifying power that comes through Jesus Christ. I venture to guess that no one has been swayed to another person’s opinion by a post on social media. Instead, these platforms have exploded into a medium where the ugliness of humanity is revealed. If we want the world to see Christ, then we have to pray and work to be made one in Him. Only in this way can we be a holy people in the midst of a dark world.   

The active nature of God’s people is seen through the bearing of light. This is not a passive action, but a call to action for God’s holy people. However, this action is a personal and corporate transformation into the image of Jesus Christ. This is to be the goal for every follower of Christ, and every community of Christ  — to become more like Christ. Each one of us is to become an intentional light-bearer in the world. We are to carry the reflection of the light of Jesus Christ into the darkness. We can wander around in the darkness with great ideas for change, but we will still be stumbling. Only when we carry the light of Christ is the darkness illuminated. The light of Christ shines into the darkness, illuminating the evils and revealing truth. 

Individually we may be able to shine a little light, but just imagine what happens when God’s people unite together! The light burns brightly and begins to dispel the darkness. No wonder the enemy would love to have us divided and grumbling. As long as we are fighting with one another, the evil in the darkness can work freely. Only when God’s holy people, filled with the mind of Christ, are united together will our light shine so brightly that there will be no place for evil to hide.  

Flemming tells us this is a call for the church to “engage in God’s reconciling mission. If God’s people in Philippi avoid internal grumblings and wranglings and conduct themselves in a way that is above reproach, their lives will shine like bright lights in a dark world. In so doing they will hold out to their pagan neighbors the life-giving gospel, not only by the words they speak, but also through the lives they live.” (NBBC) More than ever before, this is the need of the world today. May God help us to be a holy people in a dark world. 

Prayer

Lord, search my heart and help me to live in this world as a bearer of your light. Amen.