Ahoy and happy weekend to all. As always, I hope this finds you encouraged and leaves you a worthwhile takeaway.
We live in a society captivated by appearances. Much of our day is spent online or in person trying to convince others of the specter we project as our 'real' life. Paul challenges us to let go of the facade and focus on the person behind it. In a statement I found encouraging, he humbly admits that even he hasn't figured it all out yet. However, and this is key, he understands the general direction and accepts that as enough for him to start moving. I hope we can embrace his wisdom and start down the path to become the kind of people we so long to present ourselves as.
“Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they’re interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it. We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it”
First I have to comment that the phrase 'knife-happy circumcisers' terrifies me. But Paul's point here is well made. As you read the passage above I am sure someone in your life came to mind. I think we all have a friend, family member, or acquaintance who we would say is posting or talking about things purely to manufacture and maintain an image they seek to promote.
But it's not just them, it's sadly all of us. I recognize it when I re-type a text or email four times before I send it because I want it to come off just so, and when I adjust my clothing or speech based on who may be present. Take a moment to consider how much time you end up spending on the image of you vice true personal development. For me the disparity can be staggering.
And this is what Paul is getting at as he confronts the ‘religious busybodies.’ They expend all their energy trying to appear righteous and religious and neglect their real relationship with God. Appearances are far simpler to fabricate than real growth but but morph into an increasingly costly and empty substitute. In both our daily and spiritual lives we need to audit our resource expenditures and ensure we are investing in lasting growth vice fleeting appearances.
And it's not too late. We are flawed but we all possess an inherent understanding of right and wrong. We don't have to wait to figure everything out before we start living in the right direction:
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
I characteristically wait to proceed down a path until I feel I have a reasonable understanding of it. This is basic life wisdom, and not a virtue to be discarded. However, at times I can allow this analysis to become a paralysis. What I take from Paul's words is that we are unlikely to ever have it all figured out, life is simply too short, but we need to start moving now if we are going to make an impact on this world. There will never be perfect timing or circumstances, but like any investment, the sooner you begin contributions, the greater the potential.
And I find it reassuring that we are all similarly challenged in figuring out life. Social media would lead us to believe that everyone has already mastered it, that their lives are a daily highlight reel even though we intuitively know it's not the case. The granularity we seek on our futures is difficult to discern, but the general direction: a life marked by love for God and people is plain before us. And we can better achieve this end state by maturing into the people we so long to portray ourselves as.
This week challenge yourself to rebalance your distribution of effort between appearance and development. Start living the life you were designed to live and watch the details come into focus.
Have a great weekend, like the post, and share with a friend.
-the contrary disciple