Let your light shine

Joseph Stowell was a pastor for many years and president of my alma mater, Moody Bible Institute, between 1987 and 2005. I have always found the way he speaks and writes quite engaging. During his lengthy ministry, he wrote more than 20 books. Not long ago, I received his most recent one, “This Light of Mine,” which encourages believers to let their light shine to draw people to Jesus instead of alienating them from him.

In his book, Stowell wrote about Chris Goeppner, a pastor who serves a thriving church near Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Though many Ivy League universities are increasingly intolerant of Christians, the church Goeppner pastors regularly sees people come to faith. Although the congregation takes traditional Christian stands on issues that are unpopular in New England, they maintain an excellent reputation in their community because they are committed to loving people in very practical ways.

Here are some of the ways the church serves their city: they regularly provide lunch for public school teachers, pay off the lunch accounts of hundreds of hungry students, volunteer each month at a soup kitchen; and assist families struggling to pay high heating bills during brutal New England winters.

Stowell observed, “I’ve often thought that if Chris (Goeppner) had decided to take up war against the progressive agenda in his area… his opportunity to keep the gospel appealing would have been wasted. Thankfully, his church has sought to advance Christ’s kingdom by blessing those some would feel are our enemies and by serving the welfare of their community.”

Goeppner’s church decided instead of going to war for God in their town, they would focus on showing the love of God to their community. They accepted the challenge Jesus gave his followers in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NLT)

Each of us is to spread God’s light in our communities by sharing His love with those around us. No one can spread light to everyone, but all believers can reflect a bit of God’s love to those struggling in the darkness.