By David Faust
My friend Trond knows a lot about lighthouses. His home is located near a lake, with a small lighthouse next to the shore. Trond’s dad (who was born and raised in Norway) modeled the five-foot lighthouse after the 110-foot-tall Montauk Point lighthouse located on the eastern tip of Long Island, New York. That one was commissioned by President George Washington in 1792.
Lighthouses are sturdy—built on a solid base so they can withstand severe storms. They are steady—shining consistently regardless of changing seasons or weather conditions. And lighthouses are strategic—placed in hazardous locations so they can guide sailors safely to port.
We live in stormy times. In 2016, I wrote an article for The Lookout magazine called “I Don’t Hate You; I Disagree With You.” In that essay I said:
There’s far too much hate in this world. Prejudice, angry rhetoric, and judgmental attitudes damage relationships . . . . But it isn’t loving to pretend something is right when God calls it wrong. How did we get to a place where any expression of disagreement is equated with hatred?
Cultural hostility has intensified since I wrote those words eight years ago. A wise adage says to “disagree without being disagreeable,” but that’s easier said than done. How can we disagree without destroying families, splitting churches, and devastating relationships? God calls us to preach truth boldly, but also to care deeply for those who misunderstand or despise us. What does it take to preach the gospel of grace in an age of outrage?
10 Lighthouse Principles
Below are some biblical texts that can keep us sturdy, steady, and strategic in stormy times. These verses don’t answer every question or solve every problem, but they help us keep our bearings when cultural winds and waves threaten to blow us back and forth (see Ephesians 4:14-15). All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for life and ministry (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and I realize God’s revealed truth can’t be reduced to a few main points. But I am highlighting these specific verses because in my own life and ministry, Scripture passages like these help me to navigate my way through tumultuous times. I call these Scriptures “lighthouse principles” because they help us shine for Christ in times of growing darkness.
1. Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd.” Before we shepherd others, we need the Lord to shepherd us.
2. Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” In tumultuous times, he is our Rock.
3. Isaiah 53:4: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering.” Our Messiah, the Suffering Servant, is with us in uncertain times, bearing our hurts and carrying our sorrows.
4. Matthew 28:18-20: No matter who is elected president or what societal shifts take place, our mission is to make disciples of all ethnic groups, baptizing and teaching them. Remember: The Lord possesses all authority in heaven and earth, and he will be with us always.
5. John 3:16-17: God sent his Son to bring salvation to the world, not condemnation.
6. Acts 2:36-47: We can’t please every critic or fix every social ill, but we can strive to be a vibrant, mission-driven first-century church for the twenty-first century—preaching Christ, baptizing believers, uniting in prayer, caring for our neighbors, and watching in wonder as the Lord adds to his church.
7. First Corinthians 13:13: When all is said and done, “These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
8. First Corinthians 15:3-5: What is “of first importance”? Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he was “raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” No other agenda should obscure these foundational gospel truths.
9. Second Timothy 2:2, 23-24; 4:2-5: Instead of getting sidetracked and quarreling over “foolish and stupid arguments,” the call to church leaders remains clear: “Preach the Word . . . with great patience and careful instruction.” God calls us to keep our heads, endure hardship, and pass the baton of faith to the next generation.
10. First Peter 3:15. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Keep Shining
Here’s how Trond, my Norwegian-heritage friend, describes lighthouses: “They are strong towers of hope for the lost and weary, established on foundations of stone, not sand. Each lighthouse is individually, intentionally designed with unique properties. Every lighthouse is one of a kind. They shine brightest in the darkest of times.”
When Jesus told his disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), the word you is plural. You can be a lighthouse for the Lord, but you don’t have to do it alone. When Christ’s followers serve, love, witness, and care for others in unity, our combined lights blend together and shine like a beacon on a hilltop. Sadly, the reverse is true as well. When Christians fight among ourselves, clouds of division obscure the light.
The Lord calls us to believe and teach biblical truth, even when it’s unpopular, and to express agape love, even when it’s painful (such as loving our enemies). Through it all, Scripture urges, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
Yes, we live in complicated times—but they’re no tougher than the first-century Christians faced. Then and now, the Lord’s exhortation remains the same: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16a).
David Faust serves as senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis.
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