No Fake Faith

In one of Abraham Lincoln's political debates, his opponent repeatedly called him "two-faced." Lincoln finally responded, "Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you, if I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"

Jesus reserved some of his harshest criticism for the two-faced folks. Strangely enough, they were the religious leaders who should have known better—teachers of the law and Pharisees. According to the Lord's eye-opening exposé in Matthew 23, hypocrites don't practice what they preach (v. 3). They place heavy demands on others but offer no help bearing the burdens (v. 4). They emphasize appearance rather than substance—"Everything they do is done for men to see" (v. 5). They are preoccupied with recognition and indications of social status like sitting in the right places and being called by the right titles (vv. 6-12). They hinder others from entering God's kingdom (vv. 13-15). They stress minor points and overlook the big issues (vv. 16-24). Their lifestyles are inconsistent—they look good on the outside but are corrupt on the inside (vv. 25-28). They harm God's true messengers (vv. 29-36). They reject the Lord's caring love, even though he longs to gather them up as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (vv. 37-39).

Before we apply these warnings to others, we need to examine ourselves—like the child who looked into a mirror and asked, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the Pharisee of us all?"

People around us are looking for authenticity—for genuine love, real convictions, unfeigned faith. In a suspicious culture where folks disillusioned by religious shams can sniff out a phony a mile away, we need to spread the sweet smelling fragrance of sincerity and truth. Peter wrote, "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God" (1 Peter 2:12). Even skeptics take notice when we're honest about what we don't know, truthful about our mistakes, authentic in our convictions, genuine in our desire to grow, and "merciful to those who doubt" (Jude 22).

Christians with integrity debunk the popular myth that believers are spiritual escapists who "can't live in the real world." Yes, the "real world" includes the problems and pressures of daily life. But since God exists, the ultimate phoniness is to treat God as if he's irrelevant. Christians ought to be the true realists.

We believe in the reality of God. His Son Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again in real history. His cross was so real, you could have gotten a splinter from it.

We believe in the reality of guilt. Honest believers admit our need for perfection, blame society, or shirk our moral responsibility with an "I'm OK, you're OK" shrug.

We believe in the reality of grace. The church isn't a club for perfect people; it's a hospital where sinners find healing. Christians put the spotlight on God's mercy, not our own merits. Motivated by Jesus' love, not by a desire to impress others, we are imperfect people who serve a perfect Lord.

One thing's for sure: the head of our church is no hypocrite! Sinless, flawless, always truthful—there's nothing artificial about Jesus. Even the cynical governor Pilate could find no fault in him.

That's why, in a world fed up with fake faith, we must keep pointing to the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.