A half century has passed since the great Christian pastor and writer A.W. Tozer wrote these words which are more relevant today than they were when he wrote them: "The desire to make a good impression on others has become one of the most powerful of all the factors determining human conduct. That gracious and biblical social lubricant called courtesy has degenerated into a completely false and phony etiquette that hides the true man under a shimmery surface as thin as an oil slick on a quiet pond."
Hypocrisy began with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they clothed themselves with fig leaves to hide their guilt, shame and fear resulting from their sin. The compelling desire to be acceptable has evolved into a destructive obsession that has led to such artificiality of personality that it is almost impossible to determine who is authentic and sincere and when we are looking at a portrayal of something completely different. Politicians excel in this art but the rest of us are not far behind with the help of dozens of best-selling books that have educated us in the fine art of deception for the purpose of gaining what we want. The only time we are likely to see some people as they really are is in times of calamity, anger or facing death. How can we possibly relate to others when we are uncertain who they are?
There is no doubt that a rude and proud honesty carries the possibility of destroying more good in a few words than any good it could possibly advance. For example, the results would be disastrous " if everyone in society always behaved or expressed exactly how they feel or think at any given moment.
But, the great danger in being too successful in the art of masking who or what we truly are, is that we accept the false and deny our true identity of who God made us to be. God loves honesty even when it is not pretty. There is nothing more contrary and repulsive to God than falsehood and deception.
That is why the first requirement of the Gospel is to confess our sins, our flaws and weaknesses for we all have them. Admit to the craziness and confusion in your life. Acknowledge the fears and insecurities that are so deep you have felt it necessary to hide them behind a mask of phony self confidence. God's terms for spiritual and emotional healing and wholeness always remains the same: "If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts." 1 John 1:9-10.
n Pastor Gene Holman of Living Word Fellowship in Gardnerville is a member of Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
