I’ve been studying the Sermon on the Mount, and have especially noticed the severe words Jesus Christ has for hypocrites. A hypocrite is one who says one thing but does another.
In one of the commentaries I read, the author said the word hypocrite means “stage actor.” Wow! I thought. That really brings meaning to the term.
Stage actor!
The word hypocrite is not one many people use in everyday vocabulary, so might feel remote to one’s experience when heard. But when the phrase stage actor is substituted, it can hit home rapidly.
I pondered different ways people put on a show but think contrari-wise.
For instance, have you ever been cordial and pleasant to someone, but entertained suggestions like, “This person is low-life?”
That’s stage acting, hypocrisy.
Or, have you ever told yourself you would pray about a problem tomorrow, and then not pray about it tomorrow? That’s stage acting. You make a show of right intent, but don’t follow through.
Or, have you ever thought, “I’m going to do something special for my wife this weekend,” and then put it off to the next weekend, and the next, and the next…. That’s stage acting. Voicing good intent, but not following through.
Have you ever told someone they did a really good job but complained internally about how poor they did? That’s stage acting, hypocrisy. There is a lack of sincerity.
And the list seems to go on…
Stage acting. Hypocrisy. One and the same thing.
An actor steps into the role of someone else, acts out the life and thoughts of another, and when they finish their show they default back to their native self. This is what a hypocrite does. They step into the role of someone they are not, put on a show, and when the play is done, revert back to their native inclinations and patterns of behavior.
So, what's our salvation from the depravity of hypocrisy? Live true to the integrity of God's child.
God’s child is not a hypocrite, a stage actor or a show. God’s child is honest, sincere, true, faithful, and pure through and through. God’s child does what he says and says what he does. There is total congruency in thought, word and action.
This is a high ideal to demonstrate, but the only one that gets us into heaven. Jesus had this figured out over 2000 years ago. And we can get it straight today!
Enjoy living a congruent life today... No more stage acting.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Funny cat story
I heard a humorous testimony in church tonight you might get a kick out of reading.
A woman was relating how the family cat always plunked down wherever they happened to be. For example, if one was reading the paper, the cat would want to perch on the paper. Or if one wanted to work on the computer, the cat would sit on the mouse, and so on...
Well, one night her husband couldn’t find an important document in the house. They both looked and looked to no avail.
She prayed a bit for guidance, and while quietly listening for spiritual direction noticed that the cat was on the other side of the room coiled up on a table. It was a bit unusual for the cat to be separated from her or her hubby, and she became aware of the oddity.
A little voice within said, “Instead of the cat being where you are, maybe you’re supposed to be where the cat is!”
She obeyed.
She walked over to the cat, and ta-da, there was the document her husband had been looking for nestled underneath her warm fuzzy body.
As usual, kitty was where everyone else wanted to be all along.
A woman was relating how the family cat always plunked down wherever they happened to be. For example, if one was reading the paper, the cat would want to perch on the paper. Or if one wanted to work on the computer, the cat would sit on the mouse, and so on...
Well, one night her husband couldn’t find an important document in the house. They both looked and looked to no avail.
She prayed a bit for guidance, and while quietly listening for spiritual direction noticed that the cat was on the other side of the room coiled up on a table. It was a bit unusual for the cat to be separated from her or her hubby, and she became aware of the oddity.
A little voice within said, “Instead of the cat being where you are, maybe you’re supposed to be where the cat is!”
She obeyed.
She walked over to the cat, and ta-da, there was the document her husband had been looking for nestled underneath her warm fuzzy body.
As usual, kitty was where everyone else wanted to be all along.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Time to redefine success
One of the rich opportunities the present economic turmoil has provided mankind is the chance to redefine success.
All too often success has been measured in material terms, such as in the size of one’s paycheck, the number of bedrooms in one’s living quarters, a job held, the prestige garnered from position, and so on. But with lay-offs, down-sizing, declining house values, wiped out portfolios and other declines in material worth and stature, these standards for success can leave one feeling destitute and impoverished, if accepted. And this need not be. God loves us all of the time and gives us everything we need to live happily and fully no matter what story financial numbers tell.
To feel this love, though, we need to measure success in the same way God provides it.
Jesus had the right idea of success when he told his followers to seek the riches of heaven. He knew that temporal treasures brought only temporal joy and could not be relied upon for permanent happiness and support. He taught, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” And then added, “…and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When we put seeking God first, we do not humanly lack. We spiritually gain. And this is what millions of people yearn to feel more of today—gain! And it comes from seeking the riches of Spirit which are freely available to all.
I look forward to the day when worth and value is measured more widely in spiritual terms.
Won’t it be a treat when a neighbor’s worth is seen not according to the size of his salary, but according to how much love he shows toward others?
Won’t it be a delight when the love and care a stay-at-home parent shows her children is valued as highly as the service of a CEO managing the distribution of wares?
Won’t it be a brighter day when people measure success by how much spirituality they live and experience rather than in how big their IRA has grown?
True success is spiritual.
If one’s house value has shrunk, or savings vanished, or job disappeared, it is not necessary to feel unsuccessful, for success is not according to these things. Success is turning to God for help, finding it, and living true to one’s spiritual individuality. Anyone can do this regardless of material standing and they can feel the blessings that come from being spiritually minded.
When I look at the value of some mutual funds I’ve purchased in the past, it’s tempting to get depressed. But when I realize the value of those funds have nothing to do with my eternal life and well being with God, it’s easy to find reasons to rejoice and be happy.
If you are beset by concerns of failure, you might give redefining success a try too. You’ll likely find a whole lot more to be grateful for than you realized, and feel much more successful for the effort.
All too often success has been measured in material terms, such as in the size of one’s paycheck, the number of bedrooms in one’s living quarters, a job held, the prestige garnered from position, and so on. But with lay-offs, down-sizing, declining house values, wiped out portfolios and other declines in material worth and stature, these standards for success can leave one feeling destitute and impoverished, if accepted. And this need not be. God loves us all of the time and gives us everything we need to live happily and fully no matter what story financial numbers tell.
To feel this love, though, we need to measure success in the same way God provides it.
Jesus had the right idea of success when he told his followers to seek the riches of heaven. He knew that temporal treasures brought only temporal joy and could not be relied upon for permanent happiness and support. He taught, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” And then added, “…and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When we put seeking God first, we do not humanly lack. We spiritually gain. And this is what millions of people yearn to feel more of today—gain! And it comes from seeking the riches of Spirit which are freely available to all.
I look forward to the day when worth and value is measured more widely in spiritual terms.
Won’t it be a treat when a neighbor’s worth is seen not according to the size of his salary, but according to how much love he shows toward others?
Won’t it be a delight when the love and care a stay-at-home parent shows her children is valued as highly as the service of a CEO managing the distribution of wares?
Won’t it be a brighter day when people measure success by how much spirituality they live and experience rather than in how big their IRA has grown?
True success is spiritual.
If one’s house value has shrunk, or savings vanished, or job disappeared, it is not necessary to feel unsuccessful, for success is not according to these things. Success is turning to God for help, finding it, and living true to one’s spiritual individuality. Anyone can do this regardless of material standing and they can feel the blessings that come from being spiritually minded.
When I look at the value of some mutual funds I’ve purchased in the past, it’s tempting to get depressed. But when I realize the value of those funds have nothing to do with my eternal life and well being with God, it’s easy to find reasons to rejoice and be happy.
If you are beset by concerns of failure, you might give redefining success a try too. You’ll likely find a whole lot more to be grateful for than you realized, and feel much more successful for the effort.
