Ephesians 5:11
“Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.”
This chapter contains several of these deeds: sexual immorality, impurity, greed, filthiness, foolish talk, vulgar joking, idolatry empty words. We aren’t to participate in these.
As christians we wouldn’t want to. Towards the end of the last chapter in Ephesians it says unwholesome talk grieves the Holy Spirit. Grieving the Holy Spirit in turn grieves us. Romans 8:15,16 says, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” The Holy Spirit’s presence is felt by us. There’s a comforting peace and reassurance. When we grieve the Spirit, we feel that peace and reassurance depart. He isn’t leaving, just the sense of it. We feel it instantly.
We also are grieved by these unwholesome deeds, because as we walk with Christ He instills His values in us. We learn His values as we read His Word. We also have a new heart that has His values. Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” This happens when we are born again.
These deeds of darkness are the fruit of darkness. We were once of the dark, but no longer. It’s bad fruit. We are of the light and bear fruit of the light. Light exposes. The second half of this verse says to expose these deeds. As we walk with Christ, we are walking in the light. We illuminate. Matthew 5:15 says, “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but upon the lampstand, and it gives light to all those in the house.”
Most of this exposing happens when we avoid this talk. When people seek to engage us in it, we don’t go there. They sense our avoidance. This exposes. We aren’t to be judgmental. I Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord, always ready for a defense to everyone asking you an account concerning the hope in you; yet with gentleness and fear.”
We don’t give this hope like a shovel over the head. That wouldn’t be godly. He is humble, not seeking to embarrass. A good testimony would be to share how those things are harmful to us. We’ve been delivered from that slavery. We aren’t shaming them, but saying that we are vulnerable. Few people can complain about that.
Judgmental types love this passage, but would be wrong to use it as a crusade. We need to interpret scripture with scripture. Yes, Jesus did drive out the money changers. But that was because of their injustice and their misrepresenting God and keeping people from Him. It was a system He was coming against.
As we share the light with others, it’s to be helpful and enlightening, not shaming. This is doing it in a loving manner. It’s as if we are traveling and giving a helpful tip to a fellow traveler. That’s God’s love.
Lord, thank You for the Holy Spirit and the wonderful communion we have with Him. Thank You for the light You put in us. Help us to stay away from the deeds of darkness. Help us to be a light to others, as we expose the deeds of darkness.