Walking in Darkness
This morning I preached a sermon entitled "Walking in the Light," a sermon based on the day's lectionary text from the epistles -- 1 John 1:1-2:2. In that sermon I reflected on the idea that God is pure light, without any trace of darkness. Of course the contrast with God is us -- for unlike God we don't exist as pure light -- there is at least some darkness, or the propensity for darkness.
Consider verses 5-10 of this passage:
Now, in the following two verses (1 John 2:1-2), we learn that Jesus is the advocate who will free us from our bondage to darkness.
This passage seems to me to speak clearly to this week's release of the four torture memos, memos that show little regard for the rule of law or life itself. Now you can argue that the men tortured were not innocents, and that is probably true. That's not the point, the point is the willingness to walk in darkness in the pursuit of a supposed good.
The rationale is that the actions allowed by, rationalized by, saved lives. That's possible, we simply don't have that kind of evidence in front of us.
The illustration I used this morning comes from Star Wars -- young Anakin Skywalker is lured to the dark side with the promise that the dark side will empower him so he can save the lives of those he loves. But, in the end he's consumed by the darkness and destroys the very ones he loves.
We all have the propensity for darkness. I'm not a purveyor of original sin, but I do believe that we're all capable of evil. The choice is ours. And when applied to our nation, we must ask the question -- at what point does our nation's moral authority evaporate if we're willing to walk a dark path?
As I ask the question, I realize that there is within me darkness. I think we must all make the confession as we debate/discuss the merits of our points on this and other issues.
Consider verses 5-10 of this passage:
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Now, in the following two verses (1 John 2:1-2), we learn that Jesus is the advocate who will free us from our bondage to darkness.
This passage seems to me to speak clearly to this week's release of the four torture memos, memos that show little regard for the rule of law or life itself. Now you can argue that the men tortured were not innocents, and that is probably true. That's not the point, the point is the willingness to walk in darkness in the pursuit of a supposed good.
The rationale is that the actions allowed by, rationalized by, saved lives. That's possible, we simply don't have that kind of evidence in front of us.
The illustration I used this morning comes from Star Wars -- young Anakin Skywalker is lured to the dark side with the promise that the dark side will empower him so he can save the lives of those he loves. But, in the end he's consumed by the darkness and destroys the very ones he loves.
We all have the propensity for darkness. I'm not a purveyor of original sin, but I do believe that we're all capable of evil. The choice is ours. And when applied to our nation, we must ask the question -- at what point does our nation's moral authority evaporate if we're willing to walk a dark path?
As I ask the question, I realize that there is within me darkness. I think we must all make the confession as we debate/discuss the merits of our points on this and other issues.
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