Let Your Light Shine

Kyle Bartholomew

"He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you-and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." (Mark 4:21-25)

In this passage, Jesus asked a very important question to his disciples in an attempt to help them understand a spiritual concept, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? The disciples were fully aware that putting a lamp under a bowl or a bed was counter-productive and that a lamp was not designed to hide light but rather to radiate it! Jesus likens the lamp to evangelism and to the Christian example. Rather than conceal our Christianity we are called to bring it out into the open and let our light shine before men!

Albert gives our New Brother Hendrix a "Bear Hug"

I once heard it said that, "although a lighthouse makes no sound its light is seen by all." This phrase is meant to stress the importance of the Christian example! Any man who thinks his words will be heard without a Christ-like example is sadly mistaken. A man once said, "I could hear his voice if his life wasn't speaking so loud!" So many have been turned off by hypocritical men and women who have claimed to have a relationship with Jesus, yet have no life to prove it. Yet, when someone has an example to go with their voice, an incredible impact can be made. This past week two of the disciples on the mission team were called to be an example in the area of Church attendance. After being hired just a week earlier at an incredible high paying job, they were asked to work on Sunday mornings instead of attending Church. Being that they were true disciples of Jesus and unwilling to negotiate with there new boss they were both fired on the spot! Initially they felt discouraged at the loss of employment but soon became excited as one of the managers, as well as a number of other employees, expressed interest in visiting Church as they were intrigued that these two guys had given up such coveted jobs in order to worship their God on Sunday's. Albert and Dave gave off light, in such stark contrast to the darkness of the world, that they were able to be seen by all men.

Of course an example by itself is not good enough to win souls. Jesus stated, "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." It is the job of every Christian to spread the gospel message that everyone with an "ear" might hear. It was amazing to see our new brother Hendrix Augustin, added to God's kingdom through baptism on Sunday. Hendrix first heard the message by studying the Bible five years ago. Upon studying, he decided to walk away as he concluded being a disciple was too hard! After a hard break up with his girlfriend and feeling unsatisfied after attaining the job of his dreams, he once again began to search for the light! After hearing about what was happening here in the Church, he decided to change his paid-for set trip to the Phillipines to come for a visit and start studying the Bible once again. Upon hearing the message of discipleship for the second time and being called "to give up everything", which included flying back every Sunday from Kaua'i to be at service until he could move back in early September to be a part of the Church. With tears in his eyes, he responded, "Let's do it!" "I'm ready to become a disciple!" After Hendrix came up out of the waters of baptism on Sunday afternoon, he was given a light that he must now let shine before men!

Hendrix Augstin shares at his Baptism!

Some have asked, "Is it possible to lose our light as Christians?" Jesus clearly states,

"Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

This concept is simple, a Christian's light is either getting brighter or it is dying out. There is no neutral gear for the disciple. This is true for both the individual and the Church! Jesus reminds us that any Church that is in a continual state of non-repentance will have its lamp stand removed (Revelation 2:5). When a Church's lamp stand is removed it loses the ability to attract those in darkness.

The Rodley Ohana! Abby & Eric

After the decision in our former fellowship to go back to Mainline Church of Christ theology at the Long Beach Unity Meeting in 2002, it was sad to see so few people being baptized and restored. I remember a preacher relating the state of the Church to a Museum that had once been a hospital. People were no longer coming out to Church to be healed from their lives. They were still hurting, unfulfilled, & unsatisfied! Instead, those days were only distant memories captured in photos and movie clips and the songs of yesteryear. Like a museum you only heard about what had once happened, rather than what was currently happening. It is very likely that many of these Churches in our former fellowship who refused to repent lost the lamp stand that was once given to them by Jesus. However, I can imagine the excitement of the Lord when an entire Church's Lamp is restored to His Glory!

The Kids of Kingdom Kid's!!

Honolulu International Christian Church, let us never forget to let our light shine before men. Let our voice and our example be seen by all as we work to evangelize Hawaii, the Pac Rim, and ultimately the world in our generation!

Aloha,

Lead Evangelist

Kyle Bartholomew