coptichymns.net - Sharing the Joy of Coptic Hymns Around the World

How do we become a light to world, as was our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy mother St. Mary? Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly states He is the Light of the world, as He says in the New Testament, “Behold, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” He also says, “A little while longer, you have the light. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. He who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, walk in the light, that you may also become sons of light.” He also says, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (Jn 12)

Our Lord Jesus Christ says to us, too, that we are the light of the world. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matt 5) What a great honor, indeed, that Christ has given to each one of us to be a light of the world. It is also a great responsibility to be a light to the world.

Our topic can be summarized in one verse: “Let your light so shine before men, that they might see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5) Are we fulfilling this verse to the fullest, or are there people who are more diligent than we are, who are becoming their own light to the world and not revealing God as the Light of the world?

A few years ago, I saw on the cover of TIME Magazine an article entitled, “Mormons, Inc.: The Secret to America’s Fastest Growing Religion.” They are indeed the fastest growing religion, and the most prosperous per capita, over any other religion in the United States. The Mormons have a membership of 10 million people. Speaking about the end of time, the article says, “During the dark years, the members understand it is their duty to be a light to usher in the Kingdom to come.” So then, they see themselves as a light to the world, and yet, they are not Christians, but rather a cult. They deceive many by calling themselves “Christians” by projecting their social virtues.

The next line in the article caught my attention: “There is no other congregation in America that assigns to congregation members in good standing to visit every household in their flock monthly.” Some of you may ask, what does this have to do with our topic?

We are supposed to be the light of the world, but are we? Are we doing enough? Can we learn something, as Christians, from what is happening in the world around us? Can we be as diligent as the Mormons when we witness unto ourselves and reach out to others? (Of course, we reject their heretical teachings.)

Can we visit our youth and families, especially those who may have left the church and not returned, and may be in great need for someone to ask about them. It’s not just a role for priests and servants – it is all of our responsibilities. It is selfish for us to just look out for our friends and families; “for God’s will is for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim) We must reach out to newcomers also.

We must all be enthusiastic to preach the good news that overturned the face of humanity: death and fear have been destroyed forever by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who redeemed us, and we must be diligent in spreading the word.

What would happen if we performed this duty diligently? Our ministry would be greatly increased; we would feel that all the world is rejoicing with us at bringing back one sinner to Christ. How much longer are we going to keep the treasure of the Orthodox faith that we have, as a secret well hidden amongst ourselves? Are we going to worry about buildings and not worry about the people within the buildings (of course buildings increase the services, but as one of our bishops said, “We need to start investing in our people, too”).

Being the light of the world, we must focus on 3 important things:

1. We must witness to the world about Christ and His gospel.
2. We must learn from our forefathers and the rich history of our church.
3. We must be good examples and role models to others.

First: We must witness to Christ and His Gospel

We must know Him, His message and the gospels to be able to spread that word to others. Learning the gospel established four important things for us:

1. it leads to establishment of the gospel, as it says in Acts 10:42, “He commanded us to preach to the people that it was He who judged the living and the dead”;
2. it leads to proof that He is the Christ (Acts 18: when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the spirit to testify that Jesus is the Christ);
3. it leads us to repentance; and
4. it leads us to remission of sins (Acts 10:43 – through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins).

In the book of Acts, there are many verses speaking of how the disciples witnessed to Christ faithfully. Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Christ commissioned them to hand witnessing down to the generations – to us. How shall we respond to this calling, that still calls to us today? Do not think that you can speak God’s word and witness on your own – it is by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 4, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” This power was from the Lord Jesus to be able to witness His Name wherever they went.

What are we witnessing to? To Christ’s resurrection, as Peter testifies to in Jerusalem. Without His resurrection, our faith is futile. We are also witnessing to Christ’s saviorhood, to give us repentance and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31-32). We are also witnesses to Christ’s life: the disciples lived with Christ, and they knew His pure and holy life. We are witnesses to His ministry and message to the world. We witness to His suffering, as St. Peter says, he is a witness to “Christ’s suffering as a partaker of the glory to be revealed.” Christ tells us in the gospel of St. Mark, “Go then and preach to every creature.” In the gospel of St. Matthew: “Go and preach to every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” In the gospel of St. Luke, “Repentance and the remission of sins should be preached to all nations, and you are witnesses of these things.”

Some may ask why we should bother sharing our faith with others. They think, isn’t it enough for us to be good Christians? Do we have to actively share our faith with other people? There are several compelling reasons why we must share our faith with others:

1. God has commanded us to do so: “But the power of the Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” This is a divine commandment.
2. It demonstrates our love for God. Christ said in John 14, “If you love Me, you shall keep My commandments.”
3. It keeps us humble and reminds us of our weakness. St. Paul said, “There is none righteous, no not one, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
4. This is God’s chosen method for His word to be spread to all people. He could have used angels or other means, but He chose us. St. Paul said, “How shall they hear unless there is a preacher? How can he preach unless he is sent?”
5. God desires to serve all people. St. Peter says, “God is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering that all should be saved.”
6. We received our faith through others – through the faith of our parents, teachers. It is our duty to hand this faith down from generation to generation.

Second: Learn from the Forefathers of the Church

We should learn from our forefathers, who were the light of the world and witnessed to the world. The apostles were not afraid to witness to Christ in front of kings and rulers, even if they were tortured or killed. The Book of Acts tells us they were beaten, commanded not to teach in the name of Jesus, but Peter and John answered, “For we cannot help but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” They would speak the joy of the resurrection, no matter what the consequences would bring.

Do we have this same feeling today? Can we not stop speaking about the Lord wherever we go, or do we speak of useless things in our lives, in our homes, with our friends and acquaintances? Can we be a light like the Apostles?

Our church is filled with great examples of saints who were lights to the world. St. Mary, from whom we learn about patience, humility, perseverance, service. Look at St. Mark the Apostle, and his journey to Alexandria, bringing light to Alexandria and Egypt. He is a hero of our faith. In the monasticism of St. Anthony the Great, he was a great torchbearer to others in the world. Our church has many martyrs who shed their blood for Christ and were lights to us – St. Demiana, St. George. Also, the pillars of faith who were pillars of light, such as St. Athanasius, St. Dioscoros, St. Cyril. They were doctors of the church, and upheld our Orthodox faith against the heresies. Our church has been a light to the world. It was a glorious era for our church in being a witness to the world and a light to the world. Can we return our church back to these days? Yes, with the grace of God.

As Copts living in the West, you need to carry this light to those people far away from the church, to those who have left the church, to those we work with and encounter. Those outside the church sometimes become the most enthusiastic and eager members of the church, for they struggle to search for the truth and find their faith.

Let us be torchbearers of the faith today. Why can’t one of you today be another Athanasius or Anthony or Cyril the Great? Where there is a will, there is a way. Being a light to the world is a great responsibility that we must carry.

Third: Be Good Role Models, Have Good Role Models

Finally, we must be good role models to the world. Christ says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Let us take Christ as our example, and follow in His footsteps to walk as He walked. St. Paul tells us, “I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling to which you were called. With all lowliness, gentleness, patience, bearing one another in love.” May our Lord strengthen us that we may be a light to the world.

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*This article was transcribed by a member of coptichymns.net from a lecture given by His Grace.