We can only help the broken world around us if …

… we do something that we probably really don’t want to do.

I read this post a couple of weeks ago – I am … A Christian by smcburch523.

You know it’s going to be hard to read – because it was hard to write. It starts off with –

I’ve really been debating about this post. What to write, when to write it, how in-depth I want to go. It’s one of the areas of my life I have struggled with the most, and trying to define it and put it in words is exceedingly difficult. But I’ll just start it and see what it turns into.

It’s hard to write about personal stuff. Especially the first time.

I first wrote this three years ago – January 27, 2015. A lot has changed in that time. But not the way I feel about this topic. If anything, I feel it’s more important than ever. And, unfortunately it’s still something that far too few Christians are willing / able to do. So I hope this encourages at least one person to make progress in this area.

Writing about personal stuff reminds me of something I read back in college – about peeling an onion. (I tried to find the reference, but couldn’t. Maybe from Arthur Miller?) Anyway – it was something about how painful peeling an onion can be, especially at first. Removing that first layer really makes your eyes hurt. And you cry a lot. But as you get deeper into the onion – it’s not so painful. The part I really wish I could remember was the wording on how – at some point – it becomes almost a sort of pleasurable experience.

The thing is, as Christians we’re supposed to peel that onion. Remember what Jesus said about letting others know about Him. While the Great Commission is certainly applicable here, I’m going to go with something else.

But first – let’s get things started with something from Isaiah – by way of Matthew – so we can see where it fits in with Jesus..

Jesus Begins to Preach

Mt 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

Mt 4:15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—

Mt 4:16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”

Mt 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

the people living in darkness have seen a great light

To be sure, this isn’t about Jesus turning on a light switch. First of all – they didn’t even exist back then. But more importantly, it’s not what the words are even about. So, in order to get a feel for what we are talking about, let’s look at four words: “darkness” and “great light”. You may have noticed that’s only three words – but in the original Greek text it’s four.

darkness

4653 σκοτία [skotia /skot·ee·ah/] n f. From 4655; TDNT 7:423; TDNTA 1049; GK 5028; 16 occurrences; AV translates as “darkness” 14 times, and “dark” twice. 1 darkness. 2 the darkness due to want of light. 3 metaph. used of ignorance of divine things, and its associated wickedness, and the resultant misery in hell. ¹

It’s that ignorance of divine things that we’re talking about. Let’s go with a preview of what’s to come. It’s sad, but someone in this kind of darkness probably knows a lot of people who aren’t in the same situation. It’s also sad, but true, that few – if any – of those who are not in the darkness will talk to their friends who are in the darkness about how to get out of that darkness.

With that in mind, let’s look at the Greek words that go with “great light”. Since “great” is an adjective, we really need to look at “light” before we can understand what “great” means.

light

5457 φῶς [phos /foce/] n n. From an obsolete phao (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays, cf 5316, 5346); TDNT 9:310; TDNTA 1293; GK 5890; 70 occurrences; AV translates as “light” 68 times, and “fire” twice. 1 light. 1A the light. 1A1 emitted by a lamp. 1A2 a heavenly light such as surrounds angels when they appear on earth. 1B anything emitting light. 1B1 a star. 1B2 fire because it is light and sheds light. 1B3 a lamp or torch. 1C light, i.e brightness. 1C1 of a lamp. 2 metaph. 2A God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality. 2B of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it. 2C that which is exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly. 2D reason, mind. 2D1 the power of understanding esp. moral and spiritual truth. Additional Information: For synonyms see entries 827, auge; and 5338, pheggos.See entry 5817 for comparison of synonyms. ²

and

2532 καί [kai /kahee/] conj. Apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; GK 2779; 9280 occurrences; AV translates as “and” 8182 times, “also” 515 times, “even” 108 times, “both” 43 times, “then” 20 times, “so” 18 times, “likewise” 13 times, not translated 354 times, translated miscellaneously 46 times, and “vr and” once. 1 and, also, even, indeed, but. Additional Information: Frequency count based on 1894 Scrivener Greek New Testament. ³

So we see that definition 2 for the first Greek word is the appropriate one – having to do with God and not with the light by which we see earthly objects. It’s concepts like truth, knowledge, and spiritual purity. And then, with the second Greek word – we see that those concepts are being emphasized.

great

3173 μέγας [megas /meg·as/] adj. [including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc., cf also 3176, 3187]; TDNT 4:529; TDNTA 573; GK 3489; 195 occurrences; AV translates as “great” 150 times, “loud” 33 times, and translated miscellaneously 12 times. 1 great. 1A of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons). 1A1 in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects. 1A1A mass and weight: great. 1A1B compass and extent: large, spacious. 1A1C measure and height: long. 1A1D stature and age: great, old. 1B of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant. 1C of age: the elder. 1D used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong. 2 predicated of rank, as belonging to. 2A persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power. 2B things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance. 2C a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent. 3 splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately. 4 great things. 4A of God’s preeminent blessings. 4B of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God. ⁴

Even with the Greek words for light, it was like saying the word twice – to get across the idea that this wasn’t any ordinary “light” – even in the sense of the concepts related to God. Now, with the word “great” – we have essentially a tripling (or quadrupling in a strict mathematical sense) of the concepts like truth, knowledge, and spiritual purity.

The people in Jesus’ time would have understood this. As would the people to whom Isaiah prophesied and everyone in between who heard and waited for the fulfillment of what God promised. But how many of us today understand this? We read great light – but do we get the impact of the two additional (Greek) words that are used to emphasize God’s qualities?

This is why Moses said the following to the Israelites after they were freed from the Egyptians.

Dt 10:14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. 16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. 20 Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. 22 Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

In English, we look at “God of gods” and “Lord of Lords”, and assume we know what they mean. After all – one is capitalized to show it’s the greater one. But when we look at the Hebrew from which this is translated, we see that the same word is used for God and gods. The same is true for Lord and lords. It’s not the word that makes the difference. It’s the understanding of what the word actually means in the given context.

So in both Moses’ statement and in Isaiah’s prophecy, God is telling us that no matter what we may think of any of the “gods” that we have created or imagined for ourselves – He is many times greater. But even more than that. The use of two Greek words for our one word light, as we saw, was enough to make a point of emphasis. The addition of another Greek word that we translate as “great” is telling us that God is infinitely better than our made-up gods. In what Moses said, we can take all of the other man-made gods together, and God will still be greater.

So we see the difference between dark and light, as used in Isaiah and the reference in Matthew, isn’t about whether or not we can see physical earthly objects. It’s about our awareness of God. It’s about what happens after this life. Darkness is the pathway to Hell. Light is the pathway to Heaven. Which is why Jesus is telling us to repent.

By the way, for a little more understanding of what’s happening in Jesus’ statement from Matthew, here’s what repent means.

3340 μετανοέω [metanoeo /met·an·o·eh·o/] v. From 3326 and 3539; TDNT 4:975; TDNTA 636; GK 3566; 34 occurrences; AV translates as “repent” 34 times. 1 to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent. 2 to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins. Additional Information: For synonyms see entry 3338, metamellomai.See entry 5862 for comparison of synonyms. ⁵

Did you catch that? heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins. We’re not talking a simple, “I’m sorry”. This is major.

Back to peeling the onion

Now we know something about the onion we’re about to peel when we open up to others about our past. Whether it’s things that have been done to us, or things we’ve done ourselves – the past can be really hard to talk about. As Christians, when we get into the area of sins that are things we did that we now abhor – it’s getting very hard. A real onion may cause a few tears when we peel it. But this – we’re talking a big-time crying session. It makes us uncomfortable to open up to someone else. It might the person listening to us feel uncomfortable as well.

I think even writing about personal stuff is the same way. It’s hard at first. Same thing as with talking about it. It does get easier. But then something happens. People tell you they appreciate what you wrote / said. It lets them know they aren’t alone. It gives them hope. And you’re glad you said / wrote it. It doesn’t make the painful / personal things easier – but there’s something inside that feels good about being able to help someone else who’s going through the same thing. Being able to not just point them to God as the answer – but showing them that it really is possible – it’s not just words. And maybe walking with them for a while.

A couple of months ago (actually three years from the update), I had someone come up to me that heard something I had said almost four years earlier. We hadn’t seen each other since that time. And they still remembered. That feels good. Not for me – but to know that what I said about God helping me get through stuff is something that someone remembered years later.

I think it’s good if Christians can open up about our problems. Instead of (maybe inadvertently) painting Christianity as a picture of perfection where everything becomes great and wonderful – we’re honest that many of the same problems (and temptations) are still there. They don’t go away. Satan doesn’t just give up and stop. And sometimes they still affect us. For me – depression has never gone away and been replaced with a happy / perky / always “up” lifestyle. But I have a place to go. I have brothers and sisters in Christ who can help. I think that’s what we need to share.

That’s what I am … A Christian is about as well.

And then I started reading this book last night – DO Something! Make your Life Count, by Miles McPherson.
The title of this post comes from something in the book –

Warning: If you are not willing to be vulnerable with your own brokenness, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for you to do something of eternal significance for the broken world around you.

That is so true. Otherwise – we just come off as either stuffy know-it-all Christians, or – as Shannon says in her post, someone who has “blind devotion“.

We’re not alone if we celebrate our brokenness. As Miles McPherson points out in the book –

Celebrating Our Brokenness

The first thing Jesus did was to do something with us: He became a man and subjected Himself to the temptations and struggles of this world. After He identified with our brokenness, He went on to do something for us. He died on the cross.

If you want to do something great, keep in mind what Jesus told us to remember. Just before He left, He gave us specific instructions. He said, Celebrate My brokenness. Celebrate My body, broken for you. Celebrate My blood, spilled for you. That’s what communion is all about.

You see, He could have asked us to remember His resurrection. He could have asked us to honor the miracles He performed, or to practice the way He outsmarted the smartest theologians of the time. No. He said, Celebrate My brokenness.

Some may consider this wrong. Some say we should celebrate His resurrection. And I do – don’t get me wrong. But even though I’m not a Catholic anymore, I still wear a Catholic cross. Because I need to remember that brokenness. And I need to remember what He went through for me – for all of us. As of the update, I don’t wear it anymore. I don’t need it as a reminder. I write. I teach. I share my faith. I don’t need a reminder, because my life is becoming the reminder.

Not everyone needs that reminder. I get it. We’re not all the same.

But if I can borrow a thought from one of the shows my wife & I like to watch – Chopped – when a chef cooks the meal it’s for the guest – not for the chef. A chef has to cook what the guest wants, not what the chef wants. Even if the chef doesn’t personally like one of the basket ingredients – they still have to use it – and feature it. Because that’s what the judges want to see – because that’s what the guest would expect.

For us as Christians – each of us – at times – is a chef. Each of us – at other times – is also a guest. And the things in our lives are the basket ingredients. Maybe we don’t like some of those ingredients. For whatever reasons, maybe we don’t want to talk about them. But if we have trouble with them – chances are the other chefs with the same ingredients are having the same problems. But unlike Chopped where there is only one winner – with Christians we’re called to help each other – so we all win. That means sharing recipes – how to use / deal with – the problem ingredients. Everyone knows how to use the “good” ones. It’s the problem ingredients that we need help with.

The Judge has given / allowed the basket ingredients that we have in our lives. And He wants to see what we prepare with those ingredients. I think He’d like us to work together – and have Him join us – in making something good out of our basket ingredients. And once we done that – share the recipe with others – with our own guests. Help them. Show them it’s good. If they try it – they’ll like it. Then they’ll want to learn to be a chef instead of a guest. At that time – walk through the recipe with them. Help them improve on it. Help them customize it for themselves. And then they’ll want to share that recipe with other guests in their own lives. And the cycle will continue.

Remember what Jesus said

Earlier, I said we’d look at something Jesus said. Something other than the Great Commission. Well, here it is.

Mt 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

We read this passage. And we see the word “light” 4 times. Which is most unfortunate. Because that’s not at all what Jesus said. Here’s what He really said. The Greek words (yes words) translated as light are defined after each instance from the passage.

You are the light of the world

This should sound familiar. It’s the exact same word as what we read in Mt 4:16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light;

Do you realize what that means? We are God’s representatives here on earth. Not just the Pope. Not only a handful of people in any church hierarchy. Us. All true Christians. And that’s why I didn’t use the Great Commission. But for those who need / want a reminder, here is the Great Commission.

Mt 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Yes – for better or for worse, Jesus left us as His representatives. The ones who are to spread His message.

So what do the other instances of the word light mean?

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl

2545 καίω [kaio /kah·yo/] v. Apparently a primary verb; TDNT 3:464; TDNTA 390; GK 2794; 12 occurrences; AV translates as “burn” 10 times, “did burn + 2258” once, and “light” once. 1 to set on fire, light, burning. 2 to burn, consume with fire. ⁷

OK, that makes sense. They didn’t have light bulbs and LEDs and stuff like we do today. They had to set something on fire to get the kind of illuminating light that we get from a bulb today.

it gives light to everyone in the house

2989 ἐπιλάμπω, λάμπω [lampo /lam·po/] v. A primary verb; TDNT 4:16; TDNTA 497; GK 2139 and 3290; Seven occurrences; AV translates as “shine” six times, and “give light” once. 1 to shine. ⁸

Again, this makes sense. Perhaps, a different word could have been used to avoid some of the apparent redundancy and confusion surrounding the word “light”. Maybe an updated version of what’s in Young’s Literal Translation?

14 ‘Ye are the light of the world, a city set upon a mount is not able to be hid; 15 nor do they light a lamp, and put it under the measure, but on the lamp-stand, and it shineth to all those in the house; ⁹e.

In the same way, let your light shine before men

3588 ὁ [ho, he /ho/] article. In all their inflections, the definite article; GK 3836; 543 occurrences; AV translates as “which” 413 times, “who” 79 times, “the things” 11 times, “the son” eight times, and translated miscellaneously 32 times. 1 this, that, these, etc. Additional Information: Only significant renderings other than “the” counted. ¹⁰

and

We see #5457 again. This time it refers to our light. But there’s another word with it. It’s significant, because it’s pointing very specifically to “our” individual light. Similar to God’s light, but not the same. Ours is but a pale reflection of God’s. And yet, it comes from the same source: Jesus.

Paul gives us a glimpse of what this refers to in his first letter to the church in Corinth.

1Co 13:8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

The calling of the (first) disciples

The Calling of the First Disciples

Mt 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Mt 4:21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

OK – so most of us don’t immediately leave what we’re doing and follow Jesus. However, no matter when we make that decision, there’s more to it than just “following Jesus”. True – Jesus does say Come, follow me. But He immediately also says, and I will make you fishers of men. And it’s not like we catch people with a line and a hook. At least not a literal one.

Earlier I said that Jesus left it for us to spread the word of His message. It’s how people learn about Jesus – begin to have faith. This thought is expressed in 1 John.

Faith in the Son of God

1Jn 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1Jn 5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Testimony – our testimony. And faith. The two are linked. Our testimony can be the seed of someone else’s faith. And while we do have a starting point for our testimony, as John points out – it is so much better if it goes with our own personal testimony as well. This is what makes up our line and hook as we fish for people’s souls.

We saw this thought before.

This time it refers to our light. But not there’s another word with it. It’s significant, because it’s pointing very specifically to “our” individual light. Similar to God’s light, but not the same. Ours is but a pale reflection of God’s. And yet, it comes from the same source: Jesus.

It was in reference to Mt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Our light plus God’s light equals the beginning of someone’s faith.

Conclusion on helping someone in this broken world

So if you’re worried about sharing something personal – pray about it. Read some stuff that others have already shared. But know – you’re not alone. And try to remember when you were going through whatever that personal “stuff” is. Remember how you wish you had someone to talk to – someone who had already been through it. Maybe you didn’t then.

We can all be that someone who helps the broken world around us. Someone that maybe we didn’t have when we needed them. We can be that someone for one of God’s children today. But we can only do that if we’re willing to be vulnerable ourselves – and share what we’ve been through.

If ~~you~~ we are not willing to be vulnerable with ~~your~~ our own brokenness, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for ~~you~~ us to do something of eternal significance for the broken world around ~~you~~ us.

For other thoughts like this, I invite you to check out:

Does Jesus want to carry you when times are tough?

The problem of God “Calling”

“.. why not share their answers with the world?’’

God: Believe in, Believe, or Follow Him?

Footnotes

1
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
2
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
3
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
4
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
5
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
6
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
7
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
8
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
9
Young, R. (1997). Young’s Literal Translation (Mt 5:14–15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Softwar
10
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
11
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

We can only help the broken world around us if …

Jesus Begins to Preach

the people living in darkness have seen a great light

darkness

light

great

Back to peeling the onion

Celebrating Our Brokenness

Remember what Jesus said

You are the light of the world

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl

it gives light to everyone in the house

In the same way, let your light shine before men

The calling of the (first) disciples

The Calling of the First Disciples

Faith in the Son of God

Conclusion on helping someone in this broken world

Footnotes

Like this:

Please leave a comment or ask a question - it's nice to hear from you.Cancel reply

Jesus Begins to Preach

the people living in darkness have seen a great light

darkness

light

great

Back to peeling the onion

Celebrating Our Brokenness

Remember what Jesus said

You are the light of the world

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl

it gives light to everyone in the house

In the same way, let your light shine before men

The calling of the (first) disciples

The Calling of the First Disciples

Faith in the Son of God

Conclusion on helping someone in this broken world

Footnotes

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Please leave a comment or ask a question - it's nice to hear from you.Cancel reply