Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Summary: Paul’s instruction in this passage seems simple on the surface. The challenge is trying to agree on what it means to be “good” and “bad.” Turning to God’s Word is the only reliable source of finding out.
As I read this passage from Paul’s letter of two thousand years ago, I can’t help but think about our current political environment. As you have probably guessed, if you have read this blog for any length of time, we abide by Paul’s admonition to strive to be “all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:22) for the sake of the Gospel. For that reason, we don’t take sides on political issues here. Instead, we look for commonalities pointing us to our need for Jesus.
One thing I suspect most would agree with is that lots “deeds of darkness” are being done these days. The difficulty is that the “deeds of darkness” include deeds that confuse what the meaning of “darkness” is. (Corinthians 11:14)
There is a story in the news this week about a small local paper in Marion County, Kansas.* The paper, co-owned by a local woman who was ninety-eight years old, was raided by the local sheriff’s office last Friday. The raid was undoubtedly traumatic. Computer equipment and files were taken from the newspaper’s offices and also from the home of the owner. The next day, the old woman died. Her family believes the shock of the police raid was too much for her.
Who are the “bad guys” here?
Traditionally, the police are supposed to be the “good guys.” Their purpose in life is to uphold the law, not traumatize old ladies to death. And what about newspapers? Traditionally, newspapers are supposed to be “good guys,” too. Newspapers are supposed to do just what Paul is talking about and expose the “fruitless deeds of darkness.”
If we look to the Bible for a definition of “good and evil,” we probably won’t do much better than Matthew 22: 37-40. “Good,” as defined by God, is to:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
If Good is loving God, then Evil rejects God. If Good loves its neighbor, then Evil puts itself above others. The Bible tells us that “Everyone on the side of truth listens to [Jesus].” (John 18:37) People on the side of Good, then, love the truth. Evil rejects truth.
Exposing “deeds of darkness” is a dangerous business. Doers of darkness don’t like to be exposed. I don’t know who the good guys are in Marion County or if there are any, but I do know that God is good and his truth is true everywhere. Goodness always loves God above all else and treats others as we want to be treated (Luke 6:31). If God is not honored and others are treated badly, it is a sign that dark deeds are being done.
Application: Love God above all else.
Food for Thought: If people don’t agree that God is the definition of “good,” how do they determine what “good and evil” is?
*Marion County Record, Vol. 154 , No. 48, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, Marion, KS 66861
It’s a slippery slope with hell at the bottom of the slope. Judges 21:25, Isaiah 64:6.
JEC,
Thank you for checking in!
“… everyone did as they saw fit.” (Judges 21:25)
What an interesting passage! With God as the foundation for what is “fit,” such a world is a nice place to be. If God is removed and “as they saw fit” is based on nothing but our own perspective, then it becomes the slippery slope to hell.
If people don’t agree that God is the definition of “good,” how do they determine what “good and evil” is?
A lot of people in the world today subscribe to the idea of relative truth. That the truth is different for individuals based on their understanding of it. It shifts the focus for truth from an absolute truth, which is true for everyone, to a truth that allows someone to define their own truth. That’s a pretty bold statement, to say to oneself, “I know more than God.” At its very foundation, to deny an absolute truth is deny the existence of God. Those that want to “hedge their bets” will often say “well, there may be a God, but if He exists, then He isn’t interested in my life.” That is giving oneself a licence to sin. Even for believers who say “I believe in God, I trust in Jesus, but He is not interested in this part of my life,” they are subscribing to a relative truth, based on their experience and what they want.
Truth must have a a source. God is the source of absolute truth. What then is the source of relative truth? We can debate laws and morals and circumstances all we want, but relative truth always comes down to “it depends on if I am getting my way or not.” The relative truth is then justified by our life choices, instead of our life choices being justified by an absolute truth. We become the center, and everything flows in instead of out.
John 14:6 ESV Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Psalm 14 ESV
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.
Thanks, Chris!
You quote two great passages, and yes, how we define “truth” is critical to this discussion.
If people don’t agree that God is the definition of “good,” how do they determine what “good and evil” is?
Some determine good and evil by commonly agreed principles, some by what one trusted person says, some based on gut feelings, some based on science (whatever that means), but all of these are fluctuating.
History, and people, have a tendency to repeat themselves. Even when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and Babylon, God was in charge and is still in charge.
A&T,
“… but all of these are fluctuating.”
This is an importation point! God is the only immutable being in existence.
08-18-2023, If people don’t agree that God is the definition of “good,” how do they determine what “good and evil” is?
They reject Gods definition, standards of good and live by their own standards. Just as we see today.
Romans 1:22-32
They are fools claiming to be wise as they deny spiritual truths and live in their flesh seeking to please men. They have changed the truth of God into a lie, God has given them over to their lusts of their hearts as they dishonor their own bodies between themselves.
God has given them up to vile affections: their women change the natural use into that which is against nature, their men, leave the natural use of the woman, burn in lust for one another; men with men doing unseemly, receiving in themselves the consequences of their error.
They chose to reject God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do things which are not natural. As they were filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.
They do these things knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, and have pleasure in them that do them.
Great passage, Ron!
Thanks! 🙂
They have no standard for good or truth. So they do whatever they feel like and call it good. Even if it isn’t.
Well said, Rich.
It’s like slapping a “NEW!” sticker on the window of a used car in a car lot. Just saying it’s new doesn’t make it new.