collective light // chasing darkness

Hugh Halter and Matt Smay have quickly become some highly influential people in my life. It is not because we’ve met (because they know not of my existence), but because of a few books they’ve written that have crossed my path over the last six months. The “Tangible Kingdom” and “And” have both had a profound impact on me.

Recently, while finishing up the book “And,” this quote jumped out at me:

In any size church, the key is to help them find enough darkness that their collective light must come together. If the vision of the church is not scary, if it doesn’t require everyone to pitch in, if faith is not needed, then folks will stay at home and watch the football game.

Boom. Truth.

Except…I wish the quote had been phrased just a little differently. Something more like:

Whoever you are, if you are a believer, you need to be looking for darkness, don’t wait on the ‘professional’ to show you where it is. You know where the darkness is, you know it’s scary for the people that are stuck in it, because you’ve been there. It’s going to require some faith as you go for it, and it’s probably going to take the collective light of those other believers around you. Football is amazing, but not nearly as amazing as seeing the light of the Kingdom breaking in like the dawn and chasing away the darkness.

(But if you’re responsible for setting vision, go back and read that top part because that’s our job as well.)