The Christian Hypocrite's Meeting Has Been Cancelled

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”

-John 8: 31-32

alétheia: truth

Original Word: ἀλήθεια, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: alétheia
Phonetic Spelling: (al-ay'-thi-a)
Short Definition: truth
Definition: truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness.

• Strong's concordance from biblos.com

So there I was about to speak the other Sunday, two before I turned 26 (on January 23^rd). One of the young ladies from the youth group introduced me as “Pastor Jean-Marc,” and I was on. I have to tell you that I could imagine at least 50 other places I would have liked to be. I had been here a number of times before for my monthly appearance to a group of folks I felt could have cared less about what I wanted to share. “This week, we're going to talk about something that is controversial in the church...a usually controversial topic, and its about fun...the topic is fun.” I was dead in the water, I just had to struggle a little bit to affirm that I was actually dead. “Where's my preparation?” I thought, “all those cool and hip references I had planned to use?” They would not come, they just sat there in the recess of my mind, as I was left with was myself: the annoyed university student that had not felt connected to anything for weeks—people, humanity, God, family, my dreams.

I made it out,bodily alive and determined to forget the tragedy I had just endured—at least I tried. “I don't know what happened to you Jean-Marc,” responded a relative,“You did something different.” And then I remembered what I had immediately decided before speaking: I was going to talk with them honestly. Honesty I did show, just not the kind I wanted. I just forgot what my Bible said, y'know, through that dude Jesus:

“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks”

-Matthew 12:34

Considering all that and the words and stuff above, I can not fake it...and call myself a maturing Christ follower.

My father is seventy plus years old, and today he told me the most profound thing I ever heard him say when I talked about the topic of truthfulness in the community of faith, “I condemn myself before I condemn other people.” This guy is a veteran pastor, that regularly starts conversations with: “The reason God is not working in your life is because you lack faith” Hypocrisy is not new to my family experience (Oops I should not have said that).

What? It is like many of us get saved by grace to become self-sufficient. Please tell me how this makes sense. And that is where the disconnect comes for many of us in our Christian experience, we hardly admit to God (let alone other people) that we are having a hard time connecting and trusting Him and His invisible deity self.

The book I am currently reading, “TruthFaced” by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol and John Lynch, talks about, Pleasing God Vs. Trusting God. They give a great picture of the experience many of us face in our goal to please through our own great efforts:

“Welcome to the Room of Good Intentions.”

Oh yes. I like the ring of this name. I also like being perceived as someone who is well intended. “Well thanks,” I answer. “I think I've found my home. How are you​?”

The hostess pauses for a moment and then reaches into her purse to pull out a mask bearing a guarded expression and a thin smile. She puts it on and answers, “Fine. Just fine. And you?”

The entire room gets suddenly quiet, awaiting my answer. “Well, umm, thanks for asking. I'm kind of struggling with some things right now, some areas don't seem to be in keeping with who I know I'm supposed to be. I'm not really sure I'm doing well on a lot of—” The hostess cuts me off, putting her finger to her lips and handing me a similar mask. I'm not quite sure what to do. I don't really want to put it on, but others in the room are smiling and motioning for me to do so. I want so much to be accepted here that I slowly put it on.

And now everything feels different. I am quickly overcome with the realization that less self- revelation would be a smart game plan here. I realize that no one in this room wants to hear about my struggles, pain, or doubt. If I want to be welcome here, I'd better keep my cards closer to my vest and give the appearance of sufficiency. So, I slowly and carefully say the words, “Actually, I'm fine. I'm doing just fine. Thanks.” Satisfied, everyone in the room turns back to their conversations.(pp. 38-39)

How do you feel? Are you as tired as I was: a hamster running on the wheel of attempting the appearance of perfection. Please get off, you're not fooling anyone and most importantly you're not fooling God.

I dare you to insert honesty in your relationship with God and people. Some folks can not stand to have real conversations that do not end with high-fives and fist bumps. I was there once, in a church situation where everyone was “fine”—so I got new friends.

God loves the real you, not the one you pretend to be.

And if you're willing to be real with me, I could always use some honest Christians to talk to.

In Him,

Jean-Marc