Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
In what might seem to be contradictory passages above, Jesus says that both He and we are the “light of the world.” So which is it? Is Jesus the Light of the world, or are His followers the light? Yes and yes. Jesus is THE Light, and the church (His followers) are also the light. We reflect His Light to the world and, in that sense, become the illuminating presence in a dark place.
Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths
Christianity's failure to show itself practical in the past 150 years has guaranteed the success of secularism and militant Islam, both of which are doing incalculable harm at home and abroad. The rejection of any type of ‘this-worldly’ application of the Bible has resulted in the proliferation of man-centered worldviews that have steadily drained the life out of our world and left behind a spiritual vacuum.
Buy NowChristians are often treated like a problem in this country—especially in the media—despite the fact that the majority of followers of Christ are on the sidelines, watching the battles unfold as they sit by and wait for God to do something about it. God HAS done something about it: He sent His own Son to die for His people’s sins. Your sin came at a very real cost for God and for Jesus. He has provided you the example, now “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:25-37).
If those who preach big government, a nanny state, and extreme taxation believe that Christ-followers pose a problem, then we should start acting like it. The command of Christ to illuminate the world doesn’t come without difficulty, but if we believe Jesus is ALREADY the Light, we are left with few excuses (and zero valid ones).
In Chapter 6 of Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths, Gary answers the objection of many Christians to being involved in politics and culture because Jesus didn’t do these things. First, yes He did. Second, there’s many things that Jesus did that Christians aren’t required to do, just as there’s many things that Jesus didn’t do that His followers are expected to do.