Fellowship with Darkness -- Eph 5:6-11

Theme Scripture

“Let no man deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore, do not be sharers with them; 8 for you were once darkness, but you are now light in connection with the Lord.  Go on walking as children of light,9 for the fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth.  10 Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; 11 and stop sharing in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness; rather, expose them for what they are.” -- Eph 5:6-11  [NWT]

“6 Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience, 7 become not, then, partakers with them, 8 for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth, 10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord, 11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict,” – Eph 5:6-11 [YLT]

Additional Scripture

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” – James 1:27 [KJV]

“The form of worship [or religion] that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.”

Practical analysis

It seems we sometimes get caught up in what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ on the part of another who is a celebrity or who is politically notorious. But, as Christians we are to live our lives according to the Word of GOD and based completely in HIS laws. The brother of Jesus, whose name was James, penned the words in the book named after himself as quoted above and articulated that our lives should not be somehow blemished by how the world sees things. In fact, Paul, who wrote Ephesians, says it even stronger when he said we should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. What are some of those works? Serial behavior that is considered outside GOD’s law like idolatry, lying, stealing, murdering, adultery, drunkenness, greed, extortion, etc. (See 1 Cor 6: 9-11)

Interestingly, for many decades politicians have been known for being liars. Does that mean every one of them is a liar? Who knows. Unless you personally know the person and over time have come to believe they live an exemplary life then you cannot really know. However, if they publicly make a statement that can be proven false then you know they are not the example a Christian would want to emulate. If they participate in serial lying as a means of life then in fact you are warned to have no fellowship with them because they are in darkness.

When Christians begin to compare one person in darkness against another who is also in darkness [for instance, both have publicly lied multiple times] and somehow rationalize that the one has moral fitness in abundance when compared to the other the Christian actually presents a case of two individuals who share the darkness because both have been publicly caught lying. GOD does not abide in darkness and Christians have no place making judgment of which representative of darkness is better than another. In fact, it is not a conversation Christians should be involved in because darkness is the enemy of LIGHT. Our concern is twofold: 1] Remember our worship/religion is to be PURE and UNDEFILED and without spot from the world. 2] We should be the light in the darkness exposing the works of darkness and if possible share the LIGHT with the individual, so they may see the WAY to LIFE through the originator of our faith, Jesus.

While we may not ‘judge’ another as in saying their s0ul is dead or destined to be forever alienated from GOD, we must use judgment based on GOD’s righteous principles to recognize darkness, so we may remain free of its influence. We all sin, daily, with or without intent and are in need of forgiveness. We cannot judge the progress of one who is making an attempt to move from a sinful state of life to one fully transformed by the Holy Spirit. [Rom 12:2] Christians mature at an individual rate in their walk so we walk with them with compassion and encourage them to maintain their course encouraging them to not fall back into life threatening behaviors. For those bent against the Christ and who continue in darkness we can only be the ‘light’ that may attract them to life by living a LIGHTED life --- not participating in their darkness and surely not emulating one representative of darkness over another as if one is ‘morally fit’ and the other not so much.

Final Thoughts:

As a reminder, these closing words are recorded by John, Jesus’ apostle of love, near the end of Revelation: “13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” – Rev 22:12-15 [KJV] †

Bibles Designations

KJV – King James Version

NIV – New International Version

NWT – New World Translation

ASV -- American Standard Version

 DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]

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