“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:11

What constitutes the “unfruitful works of darkness?”

Adultery, perhaps? How about greed, idolatry and deceit? Hate and mercilessness must be in there as well, right? Pride? Impenitence?

I think the Apostle Paul has all of these in mind when he instructs believers NOT to participate in the sinful actions associated with spiritual darkness.

Will God’s wrath be displayed only towards those who “participate” in such behaviors…or will it be extended to those who enable, encourage and excuse them as well?

Certainly, we are ALL deserving of His ire. We all sin, selfishly and repeatedly. As Christians, however, our faith mandates that we acknowledge our sin, repent of it, and aspire not to repeat it.

The fact that our country is led by a man who revels in spiritual darkness cannot be argued. I will not judge his soul – that is the purview of the Lord alone. Similarly, I cannot pass judgment on the salvation of those who unapologetically enable, encourage and excuse his spiritual darkness. Like POTUS – and like me – they, too, will face judgment.

But scripture (Galatians 6:1) does command me to proactively and lovingly steer the brethren from the unfruitful works of darkness. Know, brothers and sisters, enabling, encouraging and excusing sin is itself sinful.

Perhaps many believe that since it is not them who seeks vengeance on adversaries or enriches themselves through political office that they are guiltless. Or that the lies they excuse and perpetuate are minor transgressions justified in the pursuit of their misguided morality. Maybe because they did not sign the executive orders cutting medical care and food assistance to the most vulnerable, they still consider themselves righteous.

But the question they must ask themselves: Will Christ judge me so when I stand before Him on the Bema Seat?

Let’s be clear: Scripture does not tell us to enable, encourage and excuse sin. IT COMMANDS US TO EXPOSE IT!

Unfortunately, many gullible Christians have been misled by the Franklin Grahams, the Paula Whites and the Robert Jeffresses of the world who seek not to shepherd their flocks to salvation, but instead mislead them in pursuit of riches and power. These are the false prophets who excuse POTUS for depicting himself as Jesus Christ, who position the administration’s political platform as a mandatory tenet of Christian theology, and applaud POTUS’ campaign of retribution.

Nary a word of exposure.

“Expose them” does not mean ignore, excuse or redefine evil. Rather, it means speaking truth, identifying sin for the evil it is, and living in obedience to God.

Jesus, of course, spent time with sinners, but He did not participate in their sin. Instead, He called them to repentance while teaching that they must leave their sin behind.

The Bible instructs Christians to neither participate in sin nor ignore it. Instead, they are to live as people of the light, allowing both their conduct and, when appropriate, their words to reveal the difference between God’s ways and the “unfruitful works of darkness.”