The Facade

I’m quite capable of putting on a happy face and being Little Miss Christian. I could do all the good deeds, enjoy the compliments, and fool you into thinking I was humble and sweet on the inside. I’m very good at doing nice things for people when in reality I just want them to notice how nice I am. And I’ll make any sacrifice in the world, as long as it furthers my own interests and comfort.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matt. 23:25-28)

These words from Christ are powerfully convicting because they describe me to a tee. Having grown up in a Christian family and been at church every time the doors were open my entire life, I know how to clean the outside of the cup and plate. I know how to whitewash my tomb. I might call this deceit by other names, even names like “the fruit of the Spirit,” but these actions don’t come from God’s Spirit inside of me. They come from my own selfish ambition and pride.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being,
and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.”

(Psalm 51:5-10)

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ”God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.” (Luke 18:9-14)

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