what are we here for?

Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:28-29; NRSVue

let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16b; NRSVue

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10; NRSVue

I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.

And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.

Titus 3:8b, 14; NRSVue

As Christ followers, what are we here for? Why are we here? Sometimes it seems to me that in Christian writ and practice it is more or less to get other people saved and to learn to grow and rest in our own salvation, and that’s it. As if that is an end in itself.

Jesus made it clear that our faith and our lives as Jesus-followers are to be centered in him. And in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that since we’re the light of the world, we’re to let it shine before others in good works which bring glory to God. Paul says the same, that it all begins by grace through faith, this salvation not of ourselves, but from God through Christ. But what is the result, what’s the point of it all? Good works.

In another letter, Paul* tells Titus, and by extension carried over today, us, that we’re to devote ourselves to good works. Practical, down to earth things which help others. In the Mennonite tradition in which I was raised and am again a part of, making quilts has and continues to be a tradition. But whatever good we can do in the opportunities in front of us, we should do.

As humans we need something to do. Those in monastic settings are active in doing something. Such not only can help keep us out of trouble, but give us purpose, not to mention us being witnesses to the world of God’s love in the good news in Jesus.

*(I won’t get into the weeds on authorship. It is interesting but for our purposes, doesn’t matter. All of this writing is included as part of God’s Word.) 

live like what you already are in Christ

…for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light…

Ephesians 5:8; NRSVue

In Christ we’re brand spanking new. But if that meant we’re incapable of descending into the old, then a lot of what Paul (or whoever the author was) wrote in the context (click link) is a waste of papyrus and ink (or whatever they used). We’re still perfectly capable of doing the stupid things, which while they can always be cleared by confession as in open acknowledgment of such to God and when necessary to others, can cause a heap of trouble. That is why we’re told that while in the Lord we’re light, we’re to walk as such, as children of light, walk of course meaning how we live. As has aptly been said, we mature in what we already are, or at least that should be the case. And it’s addressing people together, living in community and in the world.

We are light in the light, Christ. We are different in him. And part of the good news is that this light is meant for all. Light exposes the deeds of darkness. Of course, when I refer to darkness, I’m not at all referring to color, or the wonderful color black. Darkness here means the absence of light, and all of this is in a moral sense. And actually, darkness even in this sense is not altogether bad in Scripture. God is said to dwell in the darkness. But again, what we’re referring to here is clearly different. And the light exposes the darkness for judgment and salvation.

But to the point of the post. In Christ we are light; we are not darkness. Paul is saying that and it’s a powerful statement on its own. But his emphasis seems to be that since that’s the case, we’re to live accordingly. And he goes into detail in that context just what that means and doesn’t mean. That’s the emphasis. You’re light in Christ, so live like it.

Even when we inevitably stumble that should never deter us from this truth. We’re light in Christ, new people. So, we are both willing and able to do that, individually and together.