Accustomed to the Darkness

All of us have been there. We enter a dark room after we have been in a well-lighted area. At first the darkness is uncomfortable, even threatening. We move about cautiously, fearful of stumbling over an unseen object. However, after a short time, our eyes adjust to the darkness. Instead of being unnerved by that darkness we become comfortable in its confines. We have quickly become accustomed to the darkness.

In the natural world becoming accustomed to the darkness is not a negative experience. In the spiritual world, the experience can be fatal. We must realize that “[Christians] are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” (I Thessalonians 5:5) Jesus says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men love darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:19-20)

My grave concern is that those of us who profess to be the children of light, who have been delivered from the power of darkness, who have surrendered our lives to the Light of the world have become accustomed to the darkness that shadows our nation and even our churches.

Consider something as seemingly trivial as language used on television programs. At the end of the 1939 blockbuster film, Gone with the Wind, Rhett Butler says to Scarlet, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Censors objected to the use of the word, “damn,” and many in audiences across the country were appalled by its use on the silver screen. It’s not that words like this were not used in society. Words like this were considered inappropriate and crude in proper conversation. It is not my point to argue the propriety of the use of a specific word in a movie made seventy years ago. My point is to draw attention to our willingness to adapt, without struggle, to the commonplace use of inappropriate, unacceptable language that dwarfs Rhett’s comment. Even our so-called children’s television programs and movies use language and innuendo that would probably make a 1930’s bartender blush.

And we, who are the children of the light? Do we even wince when we hear vulgar language and concepts bombard our homes and condition our minds and minds of our children and grandchildren? In fact, did anyone flinch when I used the word, “damn” in this article? Have we become accustomed to the darkness?

Movies and television also reveal how much the values of our society have deteriorated in the area of promiscuity. We attend movies and watch television programs that glorify immoral behavior and perhaps find ourselves cheering on the godless. The “norm” has become provocative appearance accompanied by promiscuous behavior. We listen as one of the most dysfunctional groups in our society, the “Hollywood Stars,” advises us as to how we should live and what we should think. Seventy-five years ago a person would probably have had to slip down a back alley to an illegal theater to watch some of the commercials that are shown on today’s television at any time of the day.

And we, who are the children of the light? Do we delight in this behavior or are we appalled by it? Have we become accustomed to the darkness?

Another issue, and one that will cause me to be labeled a hate criminal, is the matter of homosexuality in our society. In the past, homosexuality was considered a perversion and many psychiatrists considered it to be a mental illness. Regardless of man’s interpretation of this age-old practice, God considers it a sin. And like any sin, it must be covered by the blood of Christ and the grace of God and its practice ended. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-11)

I do not practice nor do I condone “gay bashing.” I only have the authority to address the issue even as our Lord did. He loves all sinners, of whom I am chief, and wants them saved. He died on the cross for all of us, including the homosexual. Unfortunately, a portion of our society advocates homosexual ministers in church pulpits and promotes same sex marriages? Hollywood glorifies the practice. It is difficult to find a prime-time television program that does not have a “gay” character who is portrayed in the most favorable light. Not only are Christians expected to condone homosexual behavior they are expected to embrace it.

And we, who are the children of the light? Out of fear or indifference have we accepted the commendation for this non commendable behavior in our society? Have we joined with those who would call good evil and evil good? Have we become accustomed to the darkness?

For me, the most painful abomination in our society is the killing of millions of children. Borrowing from an article I wrote last November, “As an historian I cannot understand how a nation that chooses to kill its offspring can expect to survive. As a Christian I am appalled that this nation has officially sanctioned the murder of approximately 40,000,000 children in the name of “choice.” If God punished the children of Israel for offering up their children to Moloch, will He not hold this nation accountable for offering its children up to the gods of choice and convenience? We must support those leaders who will take a stand against this abomination.” (See Archives – 2008 Election Voter Guide)

There are those in our society who tell us that a woman has a right to take the life of her unborn child. Please remember that what is right and what is legal are not necessarily the same. The matter is extended with, “It is a choice and no one has a right to deny a woman that choice.” The argument includes, “I have right to do whatever I want with my body.” To that I say, “No, you don’t!” No one has the right to do whatever they want with their body. To press the absurdity of their argument I ask, “Do I have the right to do whatever I like with my fist?” It’s my fist. So if I choose to rapidly move my fist to the location of your nose, I have simply exercised my right to do with my body what I choose regardless of my rationale. Perhaps you offended me. Hurt my feelings. Insulted a family member. After I punch you for the inconvenience you have caused me, you will probably call the police and I will be charged with assault and battery. You may even decide to level civil charges against me to recoup damages. And you would win. My right to do as I please with my body ends when it tramples underfoot the rights of another.

A woman has the right to choose to the point of conception. She makes decisions, has choices, prior to that. After she has conceived, another human life is in the balance. Why should an unborn child suffer the consequences of a decision she regrets? The argument is given, “What should be done in the case of incest or rape?” I will gladly discuss the matter of one out of three thousand cases per day after we address the other two thousand nine hundred ninety-nine incidences each day that are not a result of incest or rape.

Not only have we, as a society, sanctioned this form of genocide, we are now going to help pay for it with our tax dollars. To some degree we have even stopped debating the issue of trimester and replaced it with the possibilities of partial-birth abortion. Some politicians and other abortion advocates would even recommend leaving a child die on the clinic table if the abortion is a failure. Where do we draw the line? Perhaps there is no line in the situational “pro choice” reality. How long will it be before the government sanctions, even promotes, euthanasia for the mentally challenged or physically deformed child? When will we see the day when the elderly become, “too much of a burden” on the health care system and “it is in the best interest of society” to eliminate this burden?

Conservatives usually vote for pro life candidates who declare their passion for preserving the lives of the unborn. Too often their campaign promises end at the swearing-in ceremony. Conservatives then wait for another two, four, or six years for the same candidate or another to declare their intentions to protect the rights of the unborn. But where are the results?

And we, who are the children of the light? Have we turned a deaf ear to the cries of these children? Have we closed our eyes to their pain-induced tears? Are we more concerned about protecting baby seals and dolphins caught in tuna nets than we are about the lives of these countless millions? Are we too indifferent to hold our elected leaders accountable? Are we too involved in little league to remember that millions will never hold a baseball, school book, or their mother’s hand? God has set before us life and death, blessings and curses, good and evil. Is it not time that we choose blessings and good? Is it not time that we choose life? Or, friends, have we become too accustomed to the darkness?

I do not advocate violence to end violence. But is it not time for the children of light to become prayerfully and activity involved to end this horrible slaughter? Is it not time for us to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves? Is it not time for us to say, “Enough!”

When we walk from that darkened room into the light, it briefly hurts our eyes. We have a choice. We can walk back into the pseudo security of the darkness or we can bask in the light and glory in its revelation. The light of the truth will cause pain to those have lived in the darkness. But the Light of the world is our Light of Life. He is life for the woman who has chosen to take the life of her child. He is able and willing to say, “I forgive but go and sin no more.” To those who choose a daily lifestyle unacceptable to our Creator, He is not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance. (See II Peter 3:9) He will say, “I forgive. Go and sin no more.”

And to the Christian who has become accustomed to the darkness, He will remind you, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Today is a time to speak!