Has hypocrisy in the Evangelical community increased in the
last few decades, or does it just seem that way because of a ‘real time’ media
ever ready to pounce on our shame? Not surprisingly, young evangelicals have
embraced authenticity as a core value.
What does it mean to be
authentic? To be honest about your weaknesses. But we know that sharing 'honest' feelings is a subjective reality, and not always positive (Phil. 2:14); and Paul said, “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so
that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Eph. 4:29).
Where's the balance? While honesty is an essential element of our intimacy, subjective human experience must always occupy an inferior position to objective truth which transcends experience. Honestly, “apart from Christ, I can do nothing; there is nothing good in me” (Jn. 15:5; Ro. 7:18). Objectively, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). And that's the honest to God truth!
All of us are faced with two realms of reality. We deal with the visible, the tangible every day. We know that it is real. But there is another world, another realm of reality which vies for our attention. The spiritual, the heavenly, and the eternal!
One day when John was on the Island of Patmos, he had one of these “another world” experiences. Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast. The voice said, "Come up here… (Rev. 4:1).
The door which John saw was the opening between heaven and earth--symbolically, between the visible and invisible realms. Do you see that same open door? Don't you hear that same voice calling you to come up higher? Do you see the throne and He who sits on it?
You can be sure He is not wringing His hands over a world that seems to be spinning out of control. Note that He is not anxiously pacing around the room. He is sitting on the Throne. He is sovereign—He is in control. Stop looking at those things as they appear to be. Ask God to change your perspective around the vision of God on the throne. Set your mind on things above (Col. 3:2).
What is your favorite attraction at Disneyland? Mine was always the Jungle Cruise. Perhaps it was the nascent spirit of adventurism that came to fruition years later when I travelled to Zaire and experienced a real jungle cruise down the Congo River. Last week in Belize, we hired a native guide, Wally, to canoe us down the Macal River, slicing through the dense rain forest on either side. Wally pointed out the tropical birds and giant iguanas perched on trees atop the jungle canopy. As you can imagine, after seeing the real thing, nothing at Disney’s Adventure Land holds any attraction for me.
And so it is, that everything in this world is only a shadow of things to come (Colossians 2:17)—God giving us a foretaste, whetting our appetites for the real thing. Everything on earth is going to pass away (1 John 2:17). According to Tozer’s definition, what we ‘see’ isn’t real: “only that which is lasting is real.”
We must examine ourselves regularly to see if we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5), i.e., living by faith; not by sight! Are we seeking to experience a life of lasting substance in the unseen realm, or are we contented with the things we can see, the shadows? Some people will never go to the Congo or Belize (even if they had the opportunity). They prefer the safety, comfort, and control of a theme park. Life is like a jungle cruise. The only question is 'do you want to experience the real thing, or are you willing to settle for the one at Disneyland?'
I read an article in USA Today about the “unreality” of “reality” TV shows. What you see as “real’ is the result of many ‘takes’ and ‘retakes’—the result of camera crews and directors behind every otherwise private moment. “Reality” shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, and The Apprentice are not ‘real’ at all, which begs the question ‘what is real?’
In his classic “Pursuit of God,” A.W. Tozer defines reality.
“What do I mean by reality? I mean that which has existence apart from any idea any mind may have of it, and which would exist if there were no mind anywhere to entertain a thought of it. That which is real has being in itself. It does not depend upon the observer for its validity…. A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.”
