Light and Clarity

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   This morning, I had the opportunity to participate in an online meeting with James Gleason, our Regional Executive Director, and about a dozen other pastors from sister churches in Oregon and Washington to discuss the issue of women in leadership and ministry in the church. These pastors represented a variety of churches from larger urban churches to smaller rural churches. I found the interaction to be both respectful and informative. All of the pastors who spoke up on the issue agreed on one particular point: the role of "elder, bishop, overseer" should be reserved for men alone, according to Scripture. The question still remained—what do we do with the title of "pastor"? Anytime we wrestle with issues like this, it is easy for discussions and debates to devolve into emotional arguments, especially when we understand how much is at stake. In these situations, often more heat than light can be generated.

   When John opens his gospel, he introduces Jesus not only as the Word but also the Light. One of the qualities of light is that it brings clarity where it is needed. Christ came into a world that had become dark through the presence of sin. John says, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:5)." Jesus' very presence exposed the deeds of darkness, and even His own people rejected Him for it (see vv. 10-11). John then goes on to describe Jesus as "the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (v. 14)." Sometimes we see truth and grace as opposites or at least at opposite ends of a spectrum; we must hold a balance between grace and truth. Yet Jesus was the embodiment of the fullness of both. He wasn't somewhat gracious and somewhat truthful; He was the fullness of both.

   If we as a church are to currently be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16), then we must seek to be like Jesus. We must strive individually and together to show both grace and truth, not compromising one for the sake of the other. Only then can we help bring clarity in a world desperately in need of it.