Pastor’s Corner: “In Disguise”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) – 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
A mark of wisdom is someone who doesn’t try to hide their weaknesses. The Bible says in James 3:17 that true wisdom is “impartial and sincere.” Those words in Greek both sound like “hypocrite,” and for good reason: They mean “without hypocrisy” or “straightforward and authentic.” Greek theater often featured just a few actors in an entire play who would repeatedly change parts. They would hold masks in front of their faces for each part, and one person could have five or six different masks and parts. That person, that actor, was called a hypocrite – in disguise.
If you’re wise, you’re not phony. You don’t wear masks and try to be something you’re not. You’re genuine and authentic. What others see is what they get! You don’t strive for perfection or pretend like you’ve already achieved it. You’re aware of your weaknesses, and you don’t try to hide them. Proverbs 28:13 (GNT) says, “You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins”. It’s ridiculous to pretend that you’ve got it all together, because nobody does.
When you start telling people what your weaknesses are, they’re not going to be shocked. They’re already aware. Everybody knows your weakness. If you won’t admit your weaknesses, you’re the only one! We see each other’s weaknesses all the time, and most people are more than willing to point out the weaknesses in others. But we don’t want to point out our own.
If you’re wise, you won’t disguise your weaknesses. In our day and age, being real, honest and authentic is shocking because we see very little of it (even in the church). People appreciate honesty—when you are straightforward about where you are. You may be surprised how much grace others are willing to give when we are honest and authentic. Humility and honesty opens the door to God’s grace and grace from others. It also helps the people you’re sharing with to be more open, because they are probably struggling, too.
People disguise themselves in many ways:
- People with thirsty souls often camouflage their spiritual poverty with religious garb. They use religion to pretend that they are better than they really are.
- Religious people often create standards by which they honor themselves and judge others. They ignore their own blind spots and sinful hearts by focusing attention on the flaws of others. They wear garbs of legalism.
- Wealthy people often accumulate wealth to conceal their spiritual poverty or the emptiness of their souls.
- People often use psychology to redefine sin as a disorder that doesn’t require repentance. They hide behind psychological disguises.
- People often use the pursuit of physical fitness to disarm or deny mortality. They hide behind the cloak of fitness.
I once applied for a position in a Christian organization years ago and was presented with a list of legalistic rules having to do with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain forms of entertainment. “We expect Christian behavior from our employees” was the explanation. I could agree with this list because I, for reasons mostly unrelated to my faith, didn’t do those things. But my argumentative side thought, “Why don’t they have a list about not being arrogant, insensitive, harsh, spiritually indifferent, and critical? None of these were addressed.
Following Jesus can’t be disguised by a list of rules. It’s a subtle quality of life that’s difficult to quantify but can best be described as “BEAUTIFUL .” The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–10 sums up that beauty: Those who are indwelt by and dependent on the Spirit of Jesus are humble and self-effacing. They are honest about their weakness and need for Jesus. They’re deeply touched by the suffering of others. They’re gentle and kind. They long for goodness in themselves and in others. They’re merciful to those who struggle and fail. They’re single-minded in their love for Jesus. They’re peaceful and leave behind a legacy of peace. They’re kind to those who misuse them, returning good for evil. And they’re blessed, a word that means “happy and fully satisfied” in the deepest sense. This kind of life attracts the attention of others and belongs to those who come to Jesus and ask Him for it. James 3:17 (NIV) – “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”
What weakness have you been trying to conceal from others? Do you think that the people in your life are not already aware of it? How does trying to conceal your weaknesses affect your physical and emotional health? Why does the Bible say you won’t have success if you try to hide your sins?
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton