Dark Days

Christmas day might be one of the darkest days of the year. That statement points at one reality of spiritual darkness that’s right in our faces on days like Christmas.

People get together on days like Christmas, families and extended families in particular, and when arguments abound it’s usually because too many of the gatherers are in the dark.

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:9-11)

Can this be a Christian? John wrote to his “little children” (2:1), to his “beloved” (2:7). The scenario itself is about “whoever,” but it’s a warning that belongs in a context of Christians. A committed non-Christian doesn’t “say” that he’s in the light; he isn’t concerned with the “new commandment” (2:8).

So, it’s a test for a group like ours.

Note the trifecta of dark trouble in verse 11. The hater:

1. is in darkness
2. walks in darkness
3. does not know where he’s going

What does all this suggest? First, that hatred already is a sign that a man isn’t seeing clearly; darkness leads to disagreeableness. Second, he still wants to go somewhere, not content to just sit there, but is walking; darkness is determined to be disagreeable. Third, the walking increases frustration because there’s not even a goal; darkness has no direction except disagreeableness.

Want a Christmas without relational disruption and disagreeableness? At the least you must abide in the light and love your brother.