We love grandiose gestures.
Elaborate and audacious actions and speeches compel us.
We often see this truth expressed in a romantic context. Whether a mad-dash through the airport, sleeping on someone’s doorstep, or an impassioned soliloquy we seem to identify with these ostentatious theatrics. They ‘had us at hello,’ and we can’t help but cheer on the protagonist in their bold attempt to demonstrate their love.
And yet, there is so much more that leads up to these moments. So much depth that is relied upon to make these actions remotely sensical. For the acts in themselves are largely narcissistic and executed with minimal foresight. Conversely, on the front end are days, months, and even sometimes years of investment and patience requisite to cultivate a healthy relationship. For absent depth, no manner of grand display can bridge the gap and truly sustain.
However, that slow burn makes for poor television and we too want to hit fast-forward. To jump straight into dramatics and forego the foundation. We errantly value the show over the substance and accordingly believe we can short-circuit the problem. This is similarly where we find ourselves in Corinthians.
“So where does it get you, all this speaking in tongues no one understands? It doesn’t help believers, and it only gives unbelievers something to gawk at. Plain truth-speaking, on the other hand, goes straight to the heart of believers and doesn’t get in the way of unbelievers.”
The people of the church at Corinth had become so enamored with spectacle that they had betrayed their fundamental purpose. They had allowed their perceived display of religiosity to detract and even undermine the message of hope they had been charged to share. Thankfully we never succumb to vanity…
I am personally quite particular regarding aesthetics. There is a certain view of things in my mind I want to ensure materializes. This borderline obsession can be deleterious to my overall objectives if not properly compartmented and prioritized. For it becomes an issue when I allow myself to focus more on the presentation than the substance. Applying this logic to the problem outlined in Corinthians, I am further convicted considering the gravitas of the message I errantly delay sharing whilst preparing unnecessary adornments. For the message already possess the requisite substance to overcome any lack of decoration.
Maybe it is time for us to stop scaffolding and start sharing. For life is short and what people need is not a layered multi-media presentation, but a genuine one-on-one conversation enabled by a meaningful relationship. Let’s plant the seed and entrust the substance.