I have a lot of fun with the filters that are part of the camera app in my smartphone. Don’t like that person in the background? Erase them. Want the day to look brighter, instead of gloomy? Add some light to the picture. With a few touches on the screen I can look younger or older. I can take some pounds off of my face, smooth out the wrinkles. It’s pretty harmless stuff but the same kind of technology can be used to create complete fiction, false narratives; yes, fakes!
I read a person’s social media yesterday and realized that the information was completely unrelated to the reality of his life but there it was, published as fact. I wondered if he believed his own stories or he is just willing to lie to create a ‘better’ appearance? In Texas, there is a great phrase for those who hang fake degrees on the wall or who boast of accomplishments they have not really achieved: they are said to be ‘all hat and no cattle,’ a guy without any cows or a ranch who thinks he’s a cowboy!
There are many reasons people
choose to be fakes - disappointment with outcomes, a lack of recognition,
failure, and comparison to others are among the reasons that some choose to
live a lie. That choice is a double tragedy. The opportunity to pursue success
is not possible when a person’s energies are devoted to propping up a false
front and that person never finds out who he really is or what
he is really capable of doing. Focused on trying to be somebody else, he
misses the joy of being who God created him to be, joyfully filling the place
in this world that God, through spiritual gifts, experiences, and
opportunities, creates just for him.
Are you a 'real' Christian?
I make no judgments about the
salvation of another, for I am no one’s judge. But, I do know that some who
claim to be in Christ Jesus live inauthentically, trying hard to be someone
they read about or admire, instead of becoming the person God desires them to
be. God wants to make you a saint, inside out, not a copy of another,
but someone unique, authentic, real! Basic to discovery of His will
and knowledge of His grace is living confessionally. When we fail, we own
it, and seek His grace which is freely given. We when succeed, we rejoice, and
praise Him for His love. When we are unsure, we wait without speaking empty
words, letting God shape His truth in us. Our constant prayer is that our inner
private experience is aligned with our conversation and action.
Jesus reminds us that turning religion into a public performance is a sure way to becoming inauthentic and He teaches us to do our best praying, giving, serving without fanfare. Here’s how The Message paraphrases His words found in Matthew 6. “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. “When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out." (Matthew 6:1-4, The Message)
A word of full disclosure is in order here. One of the
occupational hazards of being a pastor who stands ‘up front’ is the temptation
to look better than I am! I pray to resist the lure of inauthenticity everyday
by the power of the Spirit.
There is wonderful freedom to be real found in this fact – God loves YOU. He will not love us more if we are thinner, taller, smarter, admired by others, rich, or dressed in the latest fashion. He is unimpressed by our ability to pray eloquent prayers or boast of great insight into theology.
Jesus told a story to a group of religious leaders who knew all the right words, who did a lot of ‘right’ things on the outside, but whose hearts were not aligned with the will of the Father. Jesus said that a man had two sons to whom he gave a direction. The first son waffled about compliance, actually refusing the order, but then changed his mind and did as he was told. The second son answered him, “Of course, right away,” but did nothing. Which one was ‘real?’ The one who actually obeyed, not the one with all the right words. He then offered this shocking conclusion to those who were pretenders: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do." (Matthew 21:31, NLT)
Self-acceptance can be difficult. Looking in the mirror- physically and spiritually - reveals reality which isn't always pretty. But, we are basically worthless to God and ourselves until we face the facts, get real, and let Him begin to transform us. He offers us His Spirit to work on us but not just for a 'make-over' on the outside. He creates real disciples, full of the Spirit, marked by a depth of character that no one can deny! This transformational process is called sanctification. That just a big word for 'becoming like Christ' through the school of the Spirit! There will be blunders along the way, but - if we are committed to Him and to being authentic- we can be sure that His promise - "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)- will be true!
Be challenged by the inspired words of Paul. Think deeply. The word from the Word today - "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." (1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT)
Get real – with God, with yourself, and discover the amazing person He created you to be. Don’t settle to be ‘all hat, no cattle!’
______________
Your love has captured me
Your grace has set me free
Your life the air I breathe
Be glorified in me
You set my feet to dancing
You set my heart on fire
In the presence of a thousand kings
You are my one desire
And I stand before You now
With trembling hands lifted high
Be glorified
Be glorified in me
Be glorified in me
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Chris Tomlin | Jesse Reeves | Louie Giglio
© 1999 Rising Springs Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs
CCLI License # 810055
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