Articles
Be Real
Today’s news is chock-full of stories publicizing the corruption and hypocrisy of politicians. Just recently a former Virginia governor has been accused of taking favors from a businessman in exchange for using his power and influence to help promote the businessman’s products. He just happens to be a Republican, but ultimately it doesn’t matter what political party he associates with because politicians from both sides of the fence (and many in-between) have been guilty of the same. I don’t know whether he is guilty or innocent; I am not in a position to decide that.
In order for politicians to be popular enough to rise to their positions they must win the favor and trust of the people, and so they campaign on platforms of honesty, integrity, commitment, and faithfulness. In some cases they do (amazingly) maintain impeccable character. But many times it is all a farce. What bothers me when politicians are convicted (not just accused) of bribery, lying, stealing, and any other form or corruption, is the fact that they once paraded themselves as people of good character. While claiming to be an honest person who will defend the rights of his people, behind closed doors his life proves him to be a fraud. In short, he is nothing but a deceiver and liar.
Politicians demonstrate just how easy it is to deceive people if you’re clever. The Pharisees were experts at this kind of deception too. People respectfully called them “Rabbi” and treated them with special preference because they were the religious elite, the most pious citizens of Israel. That is, until Jesus came. On one occasion they challenged Jesus as to why He and His disciples did not wash their hands before eating, thus breaking the tradition of the elders. Turning the tables, Jesus exposed their imbalanced and hypocritical emphasis on physical cleanliness rather than inward purity, which is far more important: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man” (Matthew 15:19-20).
Later, Jesus’ criticisms became even more biting, calling the scribes and Pharisees “whitewashed tombs, which on the outside appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men’s bones” because they “outwardly appear righteous to men but inwardly they are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28). (No wonder they crucified Jesus!) Sounds like some politicians, right? Parading themselves as people of good character, defenders of righteousness, and personal piety, yet all the while they were living in greed and selfish pride.
We Christians need to pay careful attention to these warnings; they were included in the gospels for our instruction. It is entirely possible for us to deceive our brethren into thinking we are faithful Christians. In fact it is very easy because in a typical week we only see each other one or two days a week at church, and, of course, that’s when we put on our very best. Surprisingly it might be harder to deceive the world because they see us in more “real-life” situations—work, school, shopping, playing, etc., and that’s usually where we show our true colors.
Regardless, let us understand that no one can deceive God. Jesus knew who the Pharisees and scribes really were; certainly He knows who we are. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). To ensure that our religion is not just a show James reminds us, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). It is also possible for our love for the brethren to be a façade, to which Paul simply says, “Let love be genuine” (Romans 12:9, ESV). When your integrity or principle is tested in those “real-world” situations, remember that the first characteristic of a Christian listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 is “moral excellence.” And if our faith is genuine we will not be ashamed to give a defense for why we believe; rather we will welcome those who ask questions, because “the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).
Do not be a politician or a Pharisee. Be real, because that’s the only kind of person that is going to enter into heaven.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
