Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Ephesians 5:11 [ESV]
Tonight, I am sitting here in a barn at a test facility in the Puget Sound doing late night testing with a device that requires outdoors darkness to validate. It is a beautiful evening, but I miss my family when I am out late like this. We have 5 hours of testing once it gets dark, so the fact that it is the longest day of light of the year, makes it an extra-long night. I expect to roll into my driveway at about 3am tomorrow morning.
This is another one of those quiet times where I started out with 3 verses to cover but have so much I have taken away, that I have to drop it to one verse.
Paul’s play on light and darkness, make the ‘exposing’ of these unfruitful works (likely from verse 3 but Paul talks like the Ephesians know the works he is talking about) an interesting thought that requires more investigation. Exposure means that believers don’t participate in or condone these works. It is in the believers’ upright way of living, by showing a different path, that such exposure has to take place. This is why it is so important for believers to live in an upright manner in terms of how they talk about, interact with and treat others. If these deeds are present, they are to be dealt with and exposed. It is clear from all that Paul has said that these deeds are not to be the actions of believers, but the fact that he has to exhort them about such activities, shows that it might be something the church body is doing that they need to avoid.
Another point is important: this is not a command against having relationships with unbelievers, but only of participating in their deeds. The call of the Great Commission assumes relationships with those outside the faith.
Application:
For me, this is one of the strongest passages I have come across against the practice a lot of ‘off the rails’ churches are exhibiting like supporting debauchery and lifestyles directly counter to God’s Word. Proponents of these churches use the “every sin is equally bad to God so Pastors who tell a lie are just as sinful and unqualified as same sex married pastors…everyone is in process”. The difference here is lifestyle and consistent sinning in the face of an Almighty God. It is one thing in a moment of weakness to tell a lie, confess, and repent, than to live a life of consistent blatantly sinful actions with intention: lowering the worth and significance of the work of the cross.
Finally, this exposure goes straight to our own hearts. In biblical community, it is important to expose our sin and failures to each other in the safety God has designed for us in the body of Christ. Where we can find accountability and admonishment so we can stand at the judgement seat ready to see the face of our Savior in full gratitude and love for what He did for us on the cross; securing an eternity in Heaven with Him.
Today’s Psalm:
Blessed is the man who makes
Psalms 40:4-5 [ESV]
the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.