Big Idea - Paul tells us that one of the great purposes of our lives is to shine as lights in the world. All that he talks about in this passage centers around this truth and calling for the Christian life. But what exactly does it mean to shine as a light in this crooked and twisted generation? And how are we to do that?

Paul gives two commands of what we are to be doing in our everyday lives in order to shine as lights. They are not really two separate things as much as the wide view of what we are to do, followed by a narrower and more specific focus. So first, the wide-angle view, the big picture. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Working out our own salvation does not mean doing some kind of good works or deed in order to save ourselves and earn eternal life. Instead, it has the idea of carrying out the full effects and implications of God's saving work in our lives. Thus, salvation is not simply a gift we receive, but it is something we are to do, to live out in our everyday lives. Our salvation is to have a very practical and specific impact on our daily walk. What does that look like? It means becoming like Jesus in everything we do - but even that may be a bit vague, so Paul focuses in on one specific area of life that should be affected. In the narrow focus, he tells us that in absolutely everything we do, we are to do it without grumbling or arguing! That certainly brings things to the nitty gritty - this is a pretty measurable and specific desired outcome. Christians are to be the kind of people who are characterized by a life 100% free of complaining and strife. Paul then explains why this is so vitally important. It is so that we would be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish in order that we would shine as lights in a dark and depraved world. To shine as a light means two things. First, that we are so distinct from the world that we are set apart from it, but it is important to note that Paul is not speaking here of our personal or private character and integrity. The truth is, there are plenty of people in the world who live very good, moral lives. In fact, this is not all that hard if you are willing to live by yourself! But Paul is speaking here of how we live together as the body of Christ. We are to be radically different from the world as a community that lives together. This is much harder! He is not talking about grumbling about our circumstances, but about grumbling about each other! The second thing that light does is dispel the darkness. Where the light shines, darkness disappears. In the darkness you cannot see, but when the light shines, everything becomes clear. This speaks of our witness to the Gospel. We shine the light of the Good News to a world that is lost in darkness and needs to come into the light. We hold out the Word of life, which is the Gospel. We do this by proclaiming the message, but also by living out the message and its power in our relationships with one another! When we fail to do this, we diminish the glory of the Cross and its power to transform our lives.

So how are we doing? Even a quick survey of the Church would reveal that we are not doing this very well. I was reminded of how easily Churches can fall into complaining and conflict as I saw the ongoing fallout of how COVID tore apart many Churches in the US. There was a huge conflict over whether or not they should wear masks, and many Churches have still not recovered from that fight. That is one small example of how easily Christians can fall into complaining and strife. Why are we so bad at this? It is hard, and the Church in Phillipi illustrates how this can be a problem. But Paul is confident things can be different. There are many reasons why we fail, but here are two. First, we are very confused about the truth that really matters. If there is anything worth fighting for, it is certainly the truth. We are called to guard and defend the truth - language that points to a fight! But so, we are ready to fight to prove we are right, and we feel justified in doing battle to prove our side is right and bring down those who do not agree with us. But all truth is not created equal, and often being right has very little to do with the truth that matters. We need to guard the truth of the Gospel, that is what matters. But that is not what most of our strife and complaining is about! Secondly, nowhere does the Bible teach that the way we fight the battle for truth is through grumbling and arguing. We do not win the war for truth by attacking people in the spirit of the world. Instead, we are to teach the truth with love and compassion, and let God do the rest.

The other reason why we are failing at this is that we do not understand what it really means to work out our salvation, for it is God who is at work in us to will and to do for His good pleasure. We fail because we are trying to make peace with others in our own strength and by our own will and determination. We do not understand how utterly helpless we are to do this. We can only work out our own salvation because it is God who is at work, giving us the right will and desire, but also who is giving us the very power and life to do it. It is by nothing in ourselves that we can succeed, but through the life of Jesus that fills us. Our part is to walk by faith in what God can and will do in us and through us. So, working out our salvation begins with confessing our incredible and complete weakness and failure because we have been trying to do this in our own strength. Confessing the many ways and times we have grumbled and argued for the sake of our own pride and getting our own way. Secondly, we need to acknowledge our complete dependence upon Him. Thirdly, to trust with all our heart that God is at work and it is not because of anything we have done to get God on our side, but it is out of His delight to work in us in this way. It is all His idea and His doing! It is living life with the understanding that we have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me, and then walking by faith in Him and His power at work in us.