Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

  
    

 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

 John 8:11-13

On Christmas Eve some of us went to church. It was a candle service- we each held a lit candle and the lights were turned off. Miraculously, we all survived unsinged (even certain six year old girls). I was glad Harry wasn't there, he would have been scared, although on the other hand his light-up colour-changing millenium falcon would have looked amazing.

I've noticed the quotation in the title from Martin Luther King a lot this year, at least in my own little echo chamber. It's one that people seem to find helpful in the face of terrorism, conflict and political upheaval. The emails I get from Amnesty International and Global Citizen are full of this kind of language and imagery. Both are organisations that strive for justice, that aim to be a voice for the voiceless and to champion the most vulnerable in our world.

The problem I see, though, is that we seem to be trying to do Christianity without Christ. Martin Luther King was a Christian; for Christians, the light is not something to conjure up out of our own hearts, or something to strive for- he has a name. In this interview historian Tom Holland (not a Christian by the way) explains how the ideals that Amnesty and Global Citizen hold to- that each human life has worth and dignity, and that the weak and vulnerable matter- are fundamentally Christian. (Read his original article in the New Statesman here .)


Isaiah chapter 9, often quoted at Christmas, sums it up for me. A light has dawned on the people- it comes from outside, not from themselves- it brings joy, an end to conflict and a government of peace and justice- how? Unto us a son is born.


 The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
...
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.