into the mystic

65 Responses to “A Mystic Leader’s Crash Course: Darkness”

Comment by Ted Law

# January 28, 2006,

Thanks for this, Alex.
This is a tricky one. I think a lot of folks in the evangelical church in America think they have identified the “darkness.” It’s those “liberals” or it’s those “secularists” or it’s those who say those who allow gay marriages. It’s “them” and they need to be corrected/changed. All this, while ignoring some really dark stuff in the world — stuff like global poverty and human trafficking. How do you speak of the darkness while not sounding like those “Christians”?

Maybe the reason why many churches don’t change is because they do think they see the darkness, but it’s not the churches problem. The church is seen only as a bunker and not as a redemptive community.

Thanks for your thoughts. I’m looking forward to the rest of your images.



Comment by Tommy Watson

# January 29, 2006,

I agree Alex! I also believe that the western church is not concerned with the evil of the world and the many lost souls in it that so desperately need a witness but are more concerned with receiving a blessing to further their own careers, pocketbooks,etc. How can we dismiss Isaiah 55. We are culpable! The blessings come by walking in the darkness while at the same time following the only light that we know to be true.



Comment by Josiah Hultgren

# January 29, 2006,

Wow, I really like this post and gives me hope because I know that your voice represents many others in the maturing church. A lot of churchy Christians seem to walk around with blinders on shutting out the pain of the world - effectively limiting their compassion. Its a sad pastel bubble, that reeks of the same thinking of the consumerist new age movement which they themseves consider such an insidous force.

A path of a mature Christian is one violent compassion which moves beyond family, as well national or cultural boarders. For the church to effective there is a need for humility - to acknoledge their own darkside and reach out to God for renewal. Isn’t that called repentance?

The darkness of the world is a “we” problem, not a “they” problem, and I don’t believe there is hope for the universe without this recognition.



Comment by Eric

# January 29, 2006,

I am the one responsible for my own evil?!?

That’s not what I’ve been told before. I’ve been taught to blame the “others,” the devil or even my parents…or teachers.

But never myself.

Many will not like this message, many will be repulsed by it, many will try to crucify us for it.

I don’t make the decision to face myself and share this with an easy (or light) heart. It scares me. But I don’t have a choice.

Seems as though it is time for me to move in restless purpose and become more than all those “heros” I’ve grown to know and wish to be–this is life and death; and I don’t get to wash off the fake blood and go home if it doesn’t work out.

This is real.



Comment by Alex

# January 29, 2006,

Ted, exactly. Men, women and children for sale: The fact that people are bought and sold today is not clearly seen. Global poverty: In the world there is poverty and misery. We know somethng of the poor but not much of the miserable.

Christ following leaders must “see” the world as it is in order to describe the world to others. One good look will inform us that we cannot live in this world with moral authenticity without doing something…anything.

Niza and I have recently been moved in this way. More on this later.

Tommy, Josiah and Eric: thanks for the input.



Comment by Tommy

# January 29, 2006,

This is a great post. I have been so convicted. I have seen the darkness in my own life and tried hard to convince myself that it was light. But I am responsible for the deception. Seeing people in need and doing nothing, knowing at my core that I am called to show love and compassion. But, I am still good? Right? (I say to myself) - sometimes to busy doing my watered down version of good to notice the true needs of the world around me. I choose to turn away, pretending not to see. Convincing myself that it is not as bad as it looks. I know I am not alone. Am I?

Sincerely,
Convicted



Comment by Joshua Shanklin

# January 30, 2006,

A huge step we must take is to stop making The Church responsible for our evil problem. A year and a half into our church start-up, I am finally realizing that alot of my problems with The Church were really issues with my own evil. I think alot of us, myself included, have rebeled against the Modern Church Model for what we felt were noble reasons. Now that I have been completely removed from that model, and I am only left with myself and what I see in the mirror, I can hear God asking me, like Jacob, “what’s your name?” And i don’t like the answers that I have to give.



Comment by Tommy Watson

# January 30, 2006,

In light of all the remarks, and good ones I might add, Alex had it right in the first sentence of this blog. The western church has lost sight! Now, we are part of the church so we need to embrace responsibility. Yes, all of us are to blame but many who read the Mystic have been removed from the old regime in order to bring about a new church paradigm. We can’t hide from who we are can we? Will we remain true to god’s calling? In my desire to rebel against the current tide yes I have found dishonor in my motives. As they are brought to my attention I repent. But that doesn’t change who I am or the calling that God has placed in my life. We need more prophets who will stand up and say the church needs to open it’s eyes and repent! Will I be obedient?



Comment by Mel

# January 30, 2006,

There is a reason why people are blind; they want to be. It is so much easier. Somewhere inside of them there is a sneaking suspicion that if they look it will be horrible; and that then, they would have to change. And I can understand why! The most difficult thing about seeing and knowing– even more than the initial pain of seeing all of the ugliness and darkness– is realizing that, as Lori once put it, you can never go back.



Comment by Mel

# January 30, 2006,

Can I tell you a secret? I am sick to death of leadership. I have been called a leader all through jr. high, high school, and college, and I’m not always convinced that it is worth it. I want to live life at a slower pace. I want to relax, to not have the pressure of being in charge. Goodness knows I feel pressure enough just looking at the problems in my city and realizing that my colleagues and I have pledge ourselves to try and help. But when they offered me the job position I am now in, my (now) boss looked me in the eye and said, “If you don’t know this by now, you are a leader. You would not have done the things I read about on this reume if you weren’t.” I look at myself in the mirror, warts and all, as Joshua wrote in his comment, and ask myself, “Who am I?” because, as Tommy said in his comment, “We can’t hide from who we are can we?”

Can I escape this? No. At the time in my life when I was at my very lowest, when I just wanted to curl up and be held and hidden for a little while, someone prophesied over me that I would be a warrior and a great leader. They gave me, perhaps, the scariest chapter in the entire Bible as my chapter. Because that was what I needed or wanted to hear at the moment! LOL. It is, inescabably, who I am, who I was created to be. The Reluctant Warrior.

Yesterday a dear friend who is a pastor told us in church, “Some people are called into ministry; some are driven into ministry, and some shouldn’t be in ministry at all.” Am I called? Am I driven? I have to assume that I should be there– because it is what I have been resisting and, at times, running away from for four years now. But moving me past the burns left by past ministry and leadership troubles that have left me– well, burned out– is something only God can do. Making the face in the mirror what it should be is his job.

Anyone else out there who feels that the most dangerous darkness they’ll battle may well be inside themselves?



Comment by Lawrence Reid

# January 30, 2006,

“I, and no one other than I, am responsible for my own evil.” - gulp.

“… both the world and the human heart are dark places.”

So is the human heart basically evil or good? Does being born again make any difference?What about followers of Christ… are their hearts 1/2 good and 1/2 evil? Only evil when they are not following? - LR



Comment by Michael Binder

# January 30, 2006,

What I took away from Alex’s post is that in seeking to describe the evil, the darkness, that describes our world the place each of us has to start is in our own hearts. In my understanding of the new church movement that so many of us are seeking we do not see the church as a safe haven from the world any longer but see ourselves as sent into it to be salt and light. And Alex’s whispers shout at each one of us to see that the leader can describe the darkness in the world only when she can describe the darkness within herself. Global poverty is just a symptom, not a cause. The abuse of children is a symptom, not a cause. The cause is the darkness in our own hearts that has not be exposed and our inability to help others to expose the darkness in their own lives.



Comment by Eric

# January 30, 2006,

How do we gaurd our own hearts against blaming religion (“more evil has been done in the name of religion than anything else.” (as is so very easy to do) and still hold to our conviction that the church has no urgency in the matter?

Are we saying that the church has failed? Is that the same as The church will not rise with an appropriate primal scream unless she see’s the earth’s children all trapped in the dragon’s lair of evil, unable to breath until the gospel comes, and unless she experiences a gut wrenching deliverance from this power herself.??

Each time I re-read your post Alex, I am drawn deeper into more questions than answers…



Comment by Gary

# January 31, 2006,

Thank God for someone spelling it out like it is! Revival is going to come to west, Lord willing. There are finally leaders emerging with a right understanding of reality AND the fire of missional zeal! Give us more!



Comment by John Edgar Caterson

# January 31, 2006,

Alex- Thank You! You are so spot on. Just yesterday I had an amazing conversation with friends from Brazil. They raised a number of these issues and were wondering “Why the Church is not ‘in the game?’” I will forward them your post.

The world as ‘darkness,’ ‘I’m responsible,’ ‘film given us a few clues.’ You have truly tied together a number of key movements. I have been senseing this in my gut, my soul, my heart, my mind for a few years now [which you know from our conversations]. The film ‘Invisible Children’ really affirmed all the above for me. I am humbled each day by the responsiblity of being part of the mystic. Just perhaps we should take a lesson from Christ’s playbook - theology without praxis is useless or as James said it ‘Faith without works is dead.’



Comment by shaman

# January 31, 2006,

We will never do our part to save humanity until we stop pretending that fear is the same thing as wisdom.



Comment by Brian Bowen

# January 31, 2006,

Great conversation yall.

I see something else dealing with the darkness as well. It’s not just bringing the light into the dark but bringing the darkness into the light. So many times church is the one place we have to act right, or dress right, or talk right, or pray right or whatever. So what happens is people suddenly pretend to be something they really aren’t, well… because they’re “in church”. This all goes along with what everyone else is saying… identifing the darkness in ourselves. Church today teaches us to hide our darkness. Don’t let anyone know or you might not be able to remian a part of the group. Not theologicaly and not from the pulpit, but thats what we are taught through the actions of the church. I think one of the areas the church really needs to open up is accepting people, darkness and all. I do believe there is a shift happening. I think the old model of church was Believe-Change-Belong In other words if you believe like us and act like us then maybe you can belong to our group. I think the new model is Belong-Believe-Change. People need to belong, then they can see the real Chirst in the church and believe. Thats what will bring about change.

Ok so not exactly on topic… but those where the thoughts this thread brought to mind



Comment by rabbi

# January 31, 2006,

What is darkness? Is it the opposite of light or is it that which taints the light to be less than it can perfectly be? This is a beautiful reminder that our world is broken. To the professional minister and sheltered Christian, this is a quietly constant and disquieting reality that is just as constantly and disquietingly ignored. The Holy Writings teach that the darkness is as close as the skin that we’re in, so leading a community in combat against the darkness is more than just counter-cultural, it’s learning to live inside-out. In the end, only our personal transformation can lead to the transformation we crave to see in the world. Your whispered axioms are painfully true. What is darkness? Is it the opposite of light or is it that which taints the light to be less than it can perfectly be?



Comment by V.

# January 31, 2006,

I get intimidated by the depth of this conversation.

Instead of looking, searching, yearning, isn’t it as simple as “Bloom where you’re Planted?”. Take the steps where you are, with what you have and watch God fill in the blanks all around you.

Stop looking for “who” is, or “who” isn’t or who’s getting it (or not) and just be who and what God created you to be.

We have access to so much ’stuff’ to use in our personal ministry, and yet, Third World countries have churches that are doing more than our churches in the West. ‘Stuff’ can be good and can be used for ministry, but we can chase it with the same consumerism mindset that got us all here. If we don’t have the ’stuff’ we need our ministry stops.

Just get out of the house and walk down the street ( or to Starbucks!). That’s where God will be.

I have a simple mind….



Comment by Alex

# January 31, 2006,

Larry, evil is like a malignant tumor. the heart may be mostly healthy save the part with the malignancy. but still we consider the whole heart endangered until the malignancy is removed.



Comment by gianbernardo

# January 31, 2006,

As you’ve thought on the reality of evil, compounded to the billionth power, beyond any man-made remedy…my mind went to the 5th cahpter of Pauls letter to the Lord’s people in Rome. The “one transgression to many” seems so terribly understated if we look at the world like an insurance adjuster, trying to pencil damage estimates in our notepads. We don’t have enough notepads. But rather than write it off as total loss, what Jesus does and offers is way bigger that that, reclaiming and restoring. And my ability to act and react as a follower is not only about seeing the enormity of darkness, but banking on the enormity of God’s promise and intervention. Wish I could see it as clearly sometimes as I see the wreckage. Must see that light to point toward the light.



Comment by Kristi Cornwell

# January 31, 2006,

Profound Alex. It is time for a primal scream to cut through the darkness. Thanks for thoughts to ponder as the week goes on.

~Kristi



Comment by Lawrence Reid

# January 31, 2006,

Alex - “the heart may be mostly healthy…we consider the whole heart endangered until the malignancy is removed.”

So… is there still a malignacy in the hearts of believers and/or followers still left on earth?

Paul talked about returning to his vomit. I’m pretty sure I have revisited as well, then wondered why I returned, especcially all the while knowing there are fresh, healthy meals out there and yet the vomit… there it was… calling. - LR



Comment by Mel

# February 1, 2006,

Vomit…yuck. That example makes me nauseous. I wish the idea of the darkness made me as nauseous…I have a feeling it should. So how come it doesn’t?



Comment by Peter

# February 1, 2006,

Great thoughts. I sometimes think some elements of the evangelical church avoid the discussion of evil and darkness out of fear of being thought of as fundamentalist (e.g. fire-and-brimstone, etc…). But darkness, evil and Satan ARE real.



Comment by Lawrence Reid

# February 1, 2006,

Mel - I wonder what darkness looks like to you? For me sometimes it’s blatent like a murder. Perhaps darkness refers a lack of seeing clearly the true nature of things. LR



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 1, 2006,

Darkness is simply the absence of light!



Comment by Hermann du Plessis

# February 2, 2006,

Thanks Alex, so true!!!



Comment by Marty Schmidt

# February 2, 2006,

I agree with the statement that I am the only one can be responsible for my own darkness (with the help of the Spirit - for I on my own am completely dark without Christ) but my reality as of late is that I am responsible for other people’s darkness. Quick example - My wife and I just learned that someone had been coming into our home while we were gone for inappropriate reasons. During that time our son only four months old was not sleeping at all. Upon learning about the breakins and directing prayer toward the situation our son has been sleeping through the night again. Inheriting others darkness is as hard of a struggle as working on your own. What do you think?



Comment by Mel

# February 2, 2006,

Tommy, rarely is anything simple. :-)



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 2, 2006,

Marty,
Just a bit from my evolving theology but my belief is that we all inherit a bit of darkness when we decide to become warriors for Christ. Read Psalm 1 and Psalm 37. Your real life illustrations brings back vivid memories of personal darkness that I can’t explain except for spiritual warfare. But that also means that we’re walking with Christ. Non-walkers have an easy life.



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 2, 2006,

Mel,

True, but pertaining to what darkness is or isn’t the fact is without light we never knew there was darkness. Darkness wouldn’t exist in our minds without light. There is no such thing as darkness, just the absence of light.



Comment by scott

# February 2, 2006,

I agree, Alex. However, how does one conquer darkness without being captured by it? I know all the super-spiritual answers (prayer, scriptures, being an active part of a faith community, sharing my faith, etc.) but what about when it gets right down to the nitty gritty? What are the nuances of those spiritual answers? My premise is simple: If 1.) human beings tend toward evil; and 2.) I am a human being; then i will necessarily tend toward evil; even if i am a “Christian”. Since, I have not been completely transmutated into Christ; physically or metaphysically. Therefore, my question remains: how can we conquer darkness without being overcome by it?



Comment by Gary

# February 2, 2006,

Scott,

the answer is simple. We can not conquer darkness without being over by it. Where did you get the idea that we can?



Comment by caleb

# February 2, 2006,

we can’t conquer the darkness, but Christ can - and He has. when we choose Christ we choose to participate in His Light. He is the one who defeats darkness in us and through us. when we begin to think that it’s our responsibility to defeat darkness, we start to point out the enemies ourselves. history tells us that we’re not too good at identifying enemies. the point is not us defeating darkness; the point is us following the Light and carrying the Light wherever He directs us. the lamp doesn’t scatter darkness - the Flame does. when we recognize our own darkness and our own inability to defeat it, then we can truly be in the Light. and then the Light can transform us and the world around us.



Comment by Stephen

# February 2, 2006,

Maybe it’s just me…

Darkness is so much more than the absence of light. It not only exists, it is alive, well and thriving. It is in us and outside of us. It is personal and intentional and manipulative and deceptive and beautiful and enticing.

And we Do conquer darkness. WE do… God has equipped us as His followers as armed and dangerous. We do not cower while expecting Him to fight all our battles. He trains our hands and fingers for battle.

The human heart is wicked and prone toward evil, BUT… There is talk of a heart transplant that takes place when we lay our lives at the feet of our savior. This NEW heart is HIS heart… it replaces the old, calous, hardened heart that once beat in us. The dark evil that once owned us owns us no more!

Tempted? Yes. Controlled? No more!

Am I missing something?



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 2, 2006,

Main Entry: 1dark
Pronunciation: ‘därk
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English derk, from Old English deorc; akin to Old High German tarchannen to hide
1 a : devoid or partially devoid of light : not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light b : transmitting only a portion of light

Again, scientifically speaking, darkness only exists in the absence of light.

Am I missing something? Where in the Bible does it tell us to be preoccupied with darkness? It doesn’t! Our sin causes us to dwell on our weaknesses. And yes, we are conquerers IN CHRIST JESUS. We have nothing to do with it. My favorite Erwin quote is “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” But, we humans are always binding ourselves again and again and God keeps unwrapping us….”how long must I tarry with you.” The darkness in us exists because we are not filled with light (Christ). When we are filled there is no room for darkness. My dilemma is…can we be totally without darkness now or will we have to wait until heaven. So, in my life my darkness is the absence of all that Christ has to offer. And we do have access to all that He has to offer.
1 John 1:5- “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
Caleb, you hit the nail on the head.



Comment by Gary

# February 2, 2006,

Tommy,

what do you mean by “pre-occupied”, because I may or may not agree with you based upon what exactly you mean by that word.

Peter instructed us to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,” 1 Peter 5

Help me understand that balance between not being preoccupied with darkness (or the Prince of it) and being “alert” to his/its activities. “Resisting him” and “standing firm” are both, it seems, ongoing processes, which would seem to indicate some form of pre-occupation to some degree.

Anybody else have some thoughts?



Comment by Stephen

# February 2, 2006,

Tommy - are we talking scientifically or spiritually?

Caleb - Is it not our responsibility to actively oppose the darkness - yes in His power. Yes, He works in and through us. But is it not our time, our resources, our words, our choices? We agree with Him and cooperate with Him and forcefully advance with Him. Has Christ not indwelt and equipped us to take on the darkness and rescue it’s captives?

Gary - Maybe not a preoccupation, but definately a healthy awareness of and resistance against.

A resistance we can win… a darkness we can overcome… we are to be actively and intentionally involved… at war… If not, what are we talking about?

Jesus won the battle. Jesus made our roles possible. We stand firm in Him and resist in His power and strength, but we have to take the stand… we have to resist… we have to conquer and overcome. If we are passive, even as His followers, we will be overcome ourselves.

Overcome evil (darkness) with good… be preocupied with it. Forget trying to maintain balance. Be preocupied with snatching others from the fire… or darkness. Are we not His instruments in setting captives free? We are His body. We have EVERYTHING to do with it.



Comment by Tommy

# February 2, 2006,

Things I know (which are very few).

1. There is a light within me and I have a responsibility to that light. (Matt. 5:16)

2. In the dark, it is impossible to distinguish good from evil.

3. In the light, everything is exposed.

4. I struggle to see clearly sometimes. “The eyes are the window to the body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light… If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have.” (Matt. 6:22-23, The Message)

5. I have been rescued from the “DOMINION of darkness.” and been brought into the “kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:13-14)

6. Darkness surrounds me as a thick fog, making it hard to see even with my eyes open. “We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist.” (1 Cor. 13:12, The Message)

Clearly I have vision issues. The fog around me is so thick, making it hard enough to see, and yet I handicap myself further by living with my eyes closed. God forgive my ignorance.



Comment by caleb

# February 2, 2006,

we are soldiers in this battle. i don’t want you to get me wrong; i wasn’t trying to say that we have no role in this war against darkness. we have huge roles to fill! there are great sacrifices we must make if we want to bring Light into the world and into brighter clarity in our own lives. let us remember, however, that it is not “our” war. it’s His war. He is the King, the Commander, the Master. He has enlisted us into His army to fight His war against darkness. it’s His battle to win back the captives.

we must be aware of the battle going on around us, the darkness pervading our entire world. when we submit to our Commander, He will instruct us in the ways to advance His Kingdom. with the tools of love, peace, hope, truth, and faith we can advance forcefully against darkness. He will overcome evil with good. He will overcome darkness with light. but it must start with us.



Comment by Tommy

# February 2, 2006,

Caleb -
“remember, however, that it is not “our” war. it’s His war”

We fight for the souls of mankind, because Christ has comissioned us to do so. His heart for lost humanity becomes our heart. His battle our battle. I am not forced into battle, but compelled. It is my purpose.



Comment by scott

# February 3, 2006,

ok, here’s my challenge. Answer this question without using any spiritual language (i.e. Jesus, Bible, prayer, overcome, any word or phrase you would use at church): How do we help people that enjoy making other people suffer?



Comment by Alex

# February 3, 2006,

scott, by stopping them.



Comment by Gary

# February 3, 2006,

Scott,

you are asking a silly question. The answer is that without those concepts, realities and truths we can not even help ourselves, let alone help anyone else.

How can we talk about the power of Christ without using those words? It’s a silly question.



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 3, 2006,

Gary,
Hello! By being preoccupied I am suggesting that our focus not be on our sin or our darkness but on Jesus. A few of the posts sounded as if darkness was a preoccupation. We are not called to waddle in our sin but to confess it and walk in the light. That’s all I meant by preoccupation. That has nothing to do with being alert or ready. I’ve served in the military so being a warrior is my thing. Maybe this illustration will help. The Secret Service has a proven methodology of identifying counterfeit money. It’s simple. They study the real thing and then when they see the counterfeit it is obvious. They don’t waste their time studying the counterfeit. As children of God many of us, myself included, waste much of God’s time being consumed by our faults and our sin. Our role is to confess it and sin no more. God takes care of the guilt and the stigma.

Stephen,
Hey, great point. I believe that darkness is like sin scientifically as well as spiritually. Sin abounds only where we (sinful human beings) allow it. Some talk about darkness as if it has a life of its own. It doesn’t. It only exists by default. Satan is finite, limited, but we extend his kingdom by allowing darkness to prevail in our hearts.

Tommy,
Great posts!

Hey, I think I could hang out with all you passionate bloggers! Awesome!



Comment by Alex

# February 3, 2006,

Caleb, Tommy and others…I enjoy Paul’s words in Colossians:

“Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness –the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to God’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Paul enters the redemptive struggle to make Christ known among those who have lived without reference to scripture and the revelation towards which the scripture points.

I hear Paul describe his calling to enter the darkness with the light of hope. There are things I don’t like about Paul. This is one of the things I love about him.



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 3, 2006,

Scott,
My answer to the challenge question:
We love them!



Comment by Alex

# February 3, 2006,

TommyW, if we think of “darkness” as our individual sin only, are we not reducing it to an individual category?

darkness covers the face of the earth, and we swim in it like fish in the sea.



Comment by Marty Schmidt

# February 3, 2006,

I am often confused at what it means/looks like to become all things to all people so that some might recieve the good news. Jesus walks into the party and people ask about the kindgom of God - I walk into a party and people ask if I want something to drink. My social eq tells me it is not effective to come in declaring you are aware of the light in the dark places just the same I find it hard to make my light stick out in the dark at times. What do you do to release more light?



Comment by Gary

# February 3, 2006,

Marty,

Don’t take this as a slam, cause it is not. I deal with the same thing. But…Jesus was known for being about kingdom work. That was His reputation. His life was consumed by talking about the kingdom. He was a rabbi.

That is the spiritual answer.

The cultural answer is that the Jews of that day were consumed with talk of the kingdom. It was as much part of their culture as the NFL is in ours. Them knowing that Jesus knew a thing or two about the kingdom and asking Him about it was as common and socialable as someone who knows a thing or two about the NFL being asked his or her opinion about the up coming superbowl.

I don’t think that we should read too much into people coming to Jesus starting the conversations about the kingdom. We are not told to sit in a dark room and shine and wait for someone to come up and say, “hey, dude…you’re shinning. What is the kingdom of God all about?” That is not our commision. Our commision is to go and tell. We let our light shine by how we live AND what we say. Placing more value on one over the other is not right.



Comment by scott

# February 3, 2006,

Gary-
I understand what you are saying. You and I both know that reality is Christ and vice versa. But a significant portion of the population (i.e. those who don’t believe in Christ) don’t. Therefore, my point is simple. If we can’t even express to ourselves, as Christians, the tangible process of holistic life-change without drowning it in spiriual jargon, then how in the world will we be able to express it to those who really need it to be expressed (i.e. those who are unchurched, and without hope in Christ)? I am trying to demonstrate that stopping darkness (what i am defining is the drive or motivation to intentionally harm one’s self, or another self; be it physical, spiritual, or mental) is more than a “Christian” idea. It is a human idea. If it is a Christian idea, then it is so only becaue it is a human idea. Therefore, how can we intentionally change the motivations, environments, and behaviors of those who desire, and demonstrate tangibly that desire, harm to come to others. I’ll make a bold statement. It’s too important to merely “leave it up to Christ.” We’ve got to collectively engage the idea, and more importantly the practice. Christ is behind it. Christ desire’s it’s end. Is it possible that he’s waiting on us?



Comment by Stephen

# February 3, 2006,

Alex, I like the fish illustration. And not only does darkness cover the face of the earth, it is alive, has a life of it’s own, it has an agenda and it must be opposed.

Tommy W - How does patiently loving a Hitler and waiting for him to get it show love to his millions of victims? Is it possible to love Hitler AND stop him?

Scottt - I’d say the answer is definately YES.



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 4, 2006,

Alex,

The fish illustration sounds good but I’m not sure I buy it. Darkness once covered the face of the earth. But the witness of God is prevalent inside of a sinful world. The fish illust. suggests defeatism doesn’t it? We’re living for Christ as a conqueror among more believers that have ever lived at one time. Sure, I see darkness all around but I also see real Light everywhere. That’s what keeps me going. I was merely ilustrating darkness on a personal level because it’s easier to comprehend. I fear to believe otherwise is to take away from the work of the Holy Spirit. Peter illustrated clearly that we cannot live apart from the Spirit. So, I refuse to entertain a theology that makes sin look bigger than my God. I may not have related the message adequately. And I also admit to wading through my ignorance to grasp these issues. I may be wrong…

Marty,
On the issue of releasing more light. I believe the answer is in Luke 9. I know it’s not simple but I have discovered that we can only release more light by dying to self. I have not mastered this so take it or leave it.

Stephen,
When I said love them I never mentioned patience or suggested passiveness. Hey, I grew up with tough love. It hurts. But more than that, real love steps back and trusts God for the outcome. I believe Fox’s martyrs lived out real love. And…yes they did step back without fighting….and died! And this great humility ignited a fire that has blazed through humanity. Jesus didn’t initiate a physical uprising but He did unleash a spiritual uprising, the one that counts. Having said all that I am in the final stages of praying through reenlisting in the Army National Guard. I am studying through Joshua and Judges. Israelite victory came only by military engagement. But it wasn’t the military might that prevailed. It was the prayer and obedience. This comes only by loving God.
Stephen, I face men every week who raped little boys and they are free to prey on others as we speak. Do you think I never have thoughts of evil toward them? But God has placed me strategically to pray life into these men and be the light, probably the only light that is willing to shine before them. And I’m not giving myself any credibility. Believe me it’s VERY difficult to love but I have no choice lest I grieve my King! Sometimes love has to just love without taking up rifles and handgrenades.



Comment by Travis

# February 6, 2006,

Tommy W,

A few months ago I would have agreed with your statment about the fish illustration. But my perspective has changed with new surroundings. I live in an area surrounded by nude bars, liguor stores, and crime. I feel like I am swimming in a sea of darkness. For myself, this is not admitting defeat, it is being where God has called me. We have been sent “into the world”(John 17:19). I have been sent into a place in this world where God’s fire is dimly lit at best.Swimming in this dark sea is my calling.



Comment by Nicolas Nelson

# February 7, 2006,

I think Alex is alluding to the sort of systemic evil or “darkness” that Bob Linthicum describes in City of God, City of Satan. Evil is not merely an individual problem, it is a communal or corporate problem.

The war between light and darkness rages in your heart and mine, that’s familiar territory to us; but political, academic, religious and economic structures (and any other social structures) can also be evil in a manner wholly separate from the roles individuals play in those structures.

One example is America’s legal system. Generally speaking, it is a just system, built upon the fair rule of law: to the extent this is true, we can call the entire system “good” and even “godly” despite the character of any single person employed in that system. But the subset of the American legal system known as “Jim Crow laws” was evil in and of itself, regardless of the character of the individuals who lived under that system.

Here’s Linthicum’s punchline: in the same way that all humans are fundamentally broken, even those who seem less broken than others, so all human culture and social structures are fundamentally “dark”, having been created by flawed human beings and having been twisted (subtly or flagrantly) by the Enemy.

That’s the world we live in: as we become culturally savvy we begin to see all culture more objectively, more critically. (the pitfall of politically correct multiculturalism is to emphasize the warts of the dominant culture while pretending no other culture is flawed) Even in the most just, most generous, most loving, most honorable system possible, there is darkness.

It ALL needs to be redeemed, not just you and me individually or us as a segregate bunch.



Comment by Nicolas Nelson

# February 7, 2006,

…oh by the way, precious few of humanity’s teeming billions lives in anything approaching a best-possible-human-system.



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 8, 2006,

Travis,
Thanks for that comment. Bad thing about blogs is that they don’t portray expression or tones. My original argument about “walking in darkness” was meant to be a deterrent to those who might see this expression and use it as a crutch so as not to become Holy. The expression was used too loosely for my satisfaction according to my understanding of scripture. I was stating all this as a reminder that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! Now, I agree with you in your calling. I planted a mission in Las Vegas for 3.5 years so I can absolutely concur with your passion to walk in the “darkness”. But that has nothing to do with what I meant about “darkness”. Sure, it is in our faces everyday. But for the child of God..I’m saying there is no darkness. If so then what good is salvation. John 8:12 speaks directly to this point, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” I’m merely stating that as God’s people we don’t have to walk around in the defeatism that pervades a broken society because we have the truth and the life. This life gives us permission to cry with those who are in sin without giving in to sin. This is our fuel for lighting up the world. The longer I follow Christ the more pain or sin I see in the world. The best part is that this pain or sin allows me to know Christ that much more. Are we not commissioned to see the world through the eyes of Jesus, what can be rather than what is?



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 8, 2006,

Nicolas,

With that summary of systematic darkness I wholeheartedly agree!



Comment by Alex

# February 9, 2006,

As I read through the discussion on the topic, I realize that we have tapped into the amazing power of learning from each other. This has been an excellent forum for refining our thinking.

Part of going to battle well is to know your enemy. Thinking about and being able to describe the darkness is about knowing the enemy. Paul could write, ” we wrestle not…” because he understood and could describe the darkness. Peter could write, “The devil is like…” because he knew and could describe the darkness. Knowing and being able to describe the darkness is an aggressive posture for those of us engaged in the battle to save the universe.

Thank you all for your passionate contributions.



Comment by Nicolas Nelson

# February 10, 2006,

Sorry just one more comment (I feel like the guy who grabs one more hors d’oeuvre after the host says “okay, everyone out”):

In light of your next post about Light, and some of the comments here, I have to point out that the scientific metaphor of light/darkness is just that: a metaphor, not a perfect correlation. In other words, it is not enough to “just turn on the light” to dispel the sort of darkness the Bible describes.

Sure, “The Light” defeats and dispels and drives out “The Dark”, but not in an instant and mechanistic way. There is a real struggle here, and real reasons why we can fail in that struggle even when we are “shining” as brightly as we know how.

“Darkness” has names: sin, sarx, death, hell, the Enemy, demonic principalities and powers, etc. These we must understand, at least well enough to master them.

But understanding alone is also not enough.

We will need Light.



Comment by Alex

# February 10, 2006,

Nic, take all the hors d’ouevres you want. your contributions are always of interest and weight.



Comment by Tommy Watson

# February 12, 2006,

Alex,

Just a gracious thank you for all your efforts in search of the Mystic. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Tribe. Keep the posts coming!



Comment by Tommy Holmes

# February 16, 2006,

Alex, I was at the round table meeting in Providence you spoke at back in October. We met at an Indian place. I was the annoying guy with all the stupid questions at the end of the meeting who kept using your brothers terms. Anyway, just wanted to let you know, I was really impacted by what you were talking about there. I took my notes, got them in order and presented them to the leaders of the fellowship I was a part of at college. They basically got it, and it has helped develop their perspective on leadership. They were impacted by the concept of ACTING first and adding structure later, letting a movement begin and worrying about planning once they see where it goes. It was revolutionary stuff for us. It gets us pumped about Jesus and being willing get a little nuts. Preciate it.



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# April 5, 2006,

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