Walking in the Light

Below is another installment from our current series at the Robinson Church of Christ based on Darryl Tippens book, Pilgrim Heart.

1 John 1:5 – 2:11

The elder asserts that we cannot walk in darkness and have fellowship with God, who is light.

We’ve discussed the metaphor of light and darkness in a past lesson, what do you think walking in darkness means to this particular author? Committing evil actions? Hiding from God?

The rest of the passage gives us a pretty clear idea of what walking in the light (and conversely walking in darkness) means and what it yields.

What it means: 2:6, 9-10
Obedience in the form of loving one another marks the person who “walks in the light.” Those who “obey his word” and walk as Jesus did stroll in the light (one should hear here echoes of Jesus’ command in John 13:34: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”), and those who hate one another stumble in the darkness.

What it yields: 1:7, 2:5-6
Those who “walk in the light” live in God (and his love is made complete in him). The blood of Jesus purifies their sin and they enjoy fellowship with one another.

So, how do we go from one camp to the other? How do we cross the threshold from an isolated, stumbling through the dark to a shared fellowship in the light? The central part of our passage (1:8 – 2:2) holds the key: “If we confess our sins . . . .” Don’t deceive yourself and claim to be sinless. Instead, confess and rely your advocate, the same one who has already died for you.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains in Life Together: “In confession the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart.” Sin withdraws a person from the community and isolates him, and the isolation only strengthens the destructive power of sin. “Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. In the darkness of the unexpressed it poisons the whole being of a person. This can happen even in the midst of a pious community.”

On the other hand, “in confession the break-through to community takes place.” The sinner can confess and find true fellowship for the first time. “The sin concealed separated him from the fellowship, made all his apparent fellowship a sham; the sin confessed has helped him to find true fellowship with the brethren in Jesus Christ.”

Does your church enjoy true fellowship? Why or why not?
What keeps us from confessing to others? To whom should we confess?
What would your church look like if you started being confessional people?

Weekly Challenge:

Since Bonhoeffer warns that confession as a “pious work” or “routine duty” is spiritually harmful, the weekly challenge can’t simply be “Confess to someone.” Forced confession is hardly confession at all. Instead, engage in the following challenge that hopefully leads to healing confession at some point in the future.

This week, find some time to practice “journaling.” Prepare like you are entering into prayer: find a place where you can focus and allow for some time of silence to transition from your daily activities. Take as much time as needed to write your response to or meditation on the following statements:

Everyone who lives is deeply hurt by others.

Everyone who lives has deeply hurt others.
I have wounded and offended my God, the one who loves me and created me.

Respond to only one statement at a time. Feel free to spend multiple “sessions” (be they five or fifty minutes) on one statement.

After completing the journaling activity, ask yourself, “Is there something for which I need to confess? Is there someone to whom I can confess?”