Pretense and Reality

Pretense and Reality

Whenever someone preaches about the development of a godly life, people immediately start imitating its outward manifestations, thinking that they can come to a spiritual life in a human way. Some people are very adept at conforming outwardly, and thus they soon gain admirers who look up to their saintly image.

Nevertheless, this is hypocrisy, and it always will be. When God’s kingdom enters a person’s heart and mind, such affected and pretentious Christianity vanishes. People then become natural, firm, unshakable and carefree. Holiness is not something you paste on the outside, and that explains why those who live such a life do not have as good a reputation as those who play-act Christianity. People who have a hypocritical piety cannot bear to be shaken; they easily lose their nerve and composure. For the most part, I don’t believe that people consciously behave as hypocrites, yet hypocrisy is hypocrisy no matter what people call it. When you see something that appears to be especially pious, sweet and graceful—often in connection with better education and fine manners—playing the hypocrite is very close at hand. Satan has good taste when it comes to making things appealing. Many people are fooled by this kind of piety, and in this way they nurture hypocrisy. People like being admired and honored, whereas Jesus had no reputation that we should desire Him. You will find true godliness in a person who has the mind of a servant, and not in the one who is admired because of all the good things he says about himself—directly or indirectly. True godliness hides its piety, whereas hypocrisy has to put on a show somehow in order to be noticed. A God-fearing person waits for his reward from God, but the hypocrite expects it from people. A hypocrite glories in his own flesh; a God-fearing man is ashamed of it.

However, there surely isn’t the smallest iota of hypocrisy among our little flock of friends, is there? Well, I’m sorry to say, there’s plenty! Let us be really diligent to be the same on the inside as we appear outwardly. Stop admiring hypocrisy! If you can’t see it, then ask God to give you enlightened eyes.