That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. John 1
I have a friend who still dabbles in involvement with Churchianity. He does so, in search of loving fellowship and opportunity for Christian service. He continually gets hurt and confused, yet he keeps going back to Churchianity-sponsored events, like a battered victim going back to an abusive lover/spouse, in hope that things will be “different this time”.
He is a light in the darkness. The darkness brings discouragement and rejection yet the light brings joy and love. He is a bringer of Light’s joy and love, even in the darkness of Churchianity’s corruption and dishonesty.
He wants to serve. He wants to help. He wants to give. In the name of Christ, and in the love of Christ. These are his simple, loving and profound gifts to the world.
He went to a big Church ministry event, offering himself as a servant helper. He also has ideas to contribute. The leader of the ministry berated him, chewing him out verbally, putting him down and in his place for overstepping his bounds and not keeping his “place” as obedient mindless volunteer. (His crime was offering a few ideas for how to do the ministry in a more effective manner.)
But that day, he also had the opportunity to lovingly, gently minister to the spiritual needs of one family and he was a blessing to them. His light shined in the darkness of the hypocrisy of this big well advertised, well attended, Church-State, pop “outreach” event.
He went up to The City to join a popular ministry organization, to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of San Francisco’s poorest people.
When he went online to sign up, he found out he had to pay $25. for the privilege of working with this organization in their holiday outreach event. This was money he did not have to spend. He can’t afford to pay a fee to a 501c3 Incorporated business, in order to freely give what he has (love, kindness, help) to others. He also knows that we sheep should not have to pay the “Clergy” or any business for the right or privilege of doing evangelism, encouraging others or feeding the hungry, or using any other spiritual gifts for that matter. He sadly went elsewhere and found some other place where he could feed dinner to the homeless on that day, without paying a fee to do so.
Another week, he signed up with that group in The City for a ministry day that was offered for “free”, ie no fee required. On that day, he (and two other men) together as a team physically and spiritually blessed and helped a gentleman who lives in a tiny SF Tenderloin apartment. His light shined in the darkness of the hypocrisy of the famous Evangelical Famous Pastor led, “serving the poor” group.
His joy overcomes his sadness. The Light within him, encouraged him. His light still shines. The darkness did not overcome it!
Witnessing Encouragement 
Seeing the “City Church” program, I am reminded of another feed the poor program. No, not Our Lord’s but the one He was contrasting with.
The sea of Galilee was also known as the sea of Tiberius. It was named after Tiberius Caesar. He loved to sail on his sea on bright clear days. He also loved to brag about how many he could feed at feasts in his honor. Being very wealthy he could do these things as it showed off his power. If he fed a thousand? Wonderful in his eyes. If 1500 showed up? “Hey I fed a thousand!” Among other things he was reported to be a pedophile, but he, being a Caesar was worshipped as a god!
Now we can see man’s god verses the God we serve. He fed 5,000 men, plus women and children, from next to nothing, yet they were all fed and there were more leftovers than He started with! He sends His disciples by evening across the sea, not on a bright sunny day, and then WALKS on the water and calms the storm! Those He fed stayed in the area and went looking for Him to feed them breakfast! He was there too at first, ALONE in prayer. When He couldn’t be found by the masses they walked around the lake to Galilee looking for his servants. They find Him and say, “How did you get here? We’re hungry!” They followed Him for what He might DO for them… He showed by His miracles and His teaching that He IS God. He is worthy to be followed for Who He IS, but that teaching was too hard to follow even for many of His disciples according to scripture.
Fast forward to Passion Week, and those who follow Him for what He might do for them are crying out Hosanna to the Son of David! (We get our King now and the Romans will serve us!) But He doesn’t meet their felt needs and by late in the week they are crying out, “We have no king/god but Caesar! Crucify Him and let His Blood be on us and our children! (We want the king who will do for us.)
Now fast forward to today… The jesus Inc. franchises preach a jesus who will do for you and meet your felt needs and many flock to their shows. They chase a jesus for what he might do for them, and not for Who He Is, just like before. And worse! They invite the goats into what should be the fellowship of the lambs, such that they fulfill the parable of the wicked sewing tares into the wheat and choking out the fruitfulness, till they become herds of goats with goat herders running the show! Jesus said they climb in another way and do not enter through Him. He calls them thieves and robbers…and …wait for it…hirelings!
HMMM…
So true, thanks Mickey!
Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
The statement that we must repent is well known in the scriptures. Man’s doctrines have made a way for believers to think it is possible to continue in sin. The above scripture makes it clear that eyes need to be opened, to turn from darkness to light to receive forgiveness. This forgiveness is given in light not darkness.
Where there is light there can be no darkness. Where there is darkness there can be no light. Twilight is like the lukewarm. The Kingdom is made up of hot disciples that walk in the light. There are no fence sitters in the Kingdom of God. Man’s doctrines allow twilight and the lukewarm in their churches, not so in the Ekklesia.
2Corinthians 6:14 You are not the same as those who don’t believe. So don’t join yourselves to them. Good and evil don’t belong together. Light and darkness cannot share the same room.
Thank you for your comment Rich.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5
The simplicity of the truth of this verse is as beautiful as the simplicity of my friend’s childlike and pure faith in Christ.
There is so much that could be said in response to this story. There are so many questions we could ask the man, for his benefit. But in the end, the most important note is simply this: how strangely encouraging to hear the travails others devoted to our dear Lord and Savior have with the visible church.
Indeed. Thank you Alec.
Also, we have many stories of the travails of saints that struggled with the visible church (and left it), here at:
Called Out (now what?)
http://called-out.com/
Reminds me of Jonathon of the household of Saul (mans fleshy religion) but whose heart is loyal to David (a type of Christ).
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “Let the Lord require it at the hand of David’s enemies.” Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. (1 Samuel 20:16/17)
thanks Jim… hey good to hear from you!
Although I wasn’t involved much with corporate churches, I did work 4 years in hospice care. They are
similar in so much that they adhere to strict rules of do this, this and that.
The Lord blessed me by allowing me to shed a bit of light to dying souls. I visited them in their rooms,held their hands, prayed for and loved them, and by God’s grace, didn’t break any of their rules.
I am so thank full for the time spent there. All glory to God.
Bonnie
hi Bonnie, Thank you for sharing your hospice experience. What an opportunity to care for people!
The definition of insanity: Doing the same things (attending mega church) expecting different results (loving Christians) is what its come down to.