Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
When measured against the Word of God, there is no doubt that we are living “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation”. But, our Christian duty to God is to “Do all things without murmurings and disputings”, even while “the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things” (Acts 4:25). It is our duty to “be blameless and harmless”; that is, do not respond to their “crooked and perverse” ways with “crooked and perverse” behaviors, even though our natural mind deems it justified. We are to behave at all times and in all situations as “the sons of God”. When we behave as “the sons of God”, we “shine as lights in the world”; that is, we show forth the goodness and greatness and lovingkindness and great power of our Almighty God and beam abroad as “the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14). It is true that the “heathen” are often further enraged, as the “sons of God” brightly shine their “lights in the world”; for, those bright “lights” clearly reveal the grotesque wickedness “of a crooked and perverse nation”. The “sons of God” shine brightly, when they are “Holding forth the word of life”; that is, living outwardly, for all to see, “the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thessalonians 1:8). “Holding forth” is something like holding an exceedingly bright light in your hand on a very dark night; the Psalmist declares of this light, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105); that is, it reveals exactly where we are and where we ought to be in the service of our God! As these blessed “lights” “shine” brightly “in the world”, they push back the wicked darkness “of a crooked and perverse nation”! Therefore, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).