March 2, 2022 (Wednesday)
I have not seen this for a while, but I have a bad attitude
toward people who wear their spirituality externally. You know, the person that
has to tell you how spiritual they are or compare themselves with others. I’m
ashamed to say this, but I’m positive these people are dangerous.
Let me take you to some things Jesus said. Jesus warned, “Beware of
practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them,
for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” [Matthew
6:1 ESV] (Side note: I dislike how the CEB translates this verse.) Jesus is
warning us not wear our spirituality externally. I strongly believe people
should know we are followers of Jesus but let’s NOT blow our own horn. Pretending
religion is showy religion and has done more damage to the mission of the
church than any external threat.
As Jesus continues the warning, “Whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow your
trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they
may get praise from people. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get.” [Matthew 6:2 CEB] Drawing attention to our good deeds
certainly is a sign something’s not right. I’m guessing this kind of action
also humiliates those receiving aid.
Expanding from good deeds to shows of religious acts, Jesus
warns, “When you
pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues
and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s
the only reward they’ll get.” [Matthew 6:5 CEB] The image I get are
those that make showy prayers in public spaces. We are not talking about being thankful
for our food or the quiet prayer at the moment of need. This is the look-at-me
type. I have observed times this becomes almost a contagious competition.
One two more warnings, “And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the
hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I
assure you that they have their reward.” [Matthew
6:16 CEB] Notice the two ideas of praying and fasting coupled together. There are
times and reasons to fast. However, I’m sure fasting, as a show of righteousness,
is at best counter-productive spiritually. Churches will call for fasting as a
means of common prayer. If fasting is used to gain favor with God, it’s
useless. Fasting is, throughout the Bible, a response to God’s initiative and
work.
During the days of Nehemiah, there was a revival. In contrition,
the people wept. What was the appropriate response to this revival? “Go, eat rich food,
and drink something sweet,” he said to them, “and send portions of this to any
who have nothing ready! This day is holy to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the
joy from the Lord is your strength!” [Nehemiah
8:10 CEB] This sounds backwards, yet it is instructive and insightful. There is
a time to mourn and weep, but the forgiven also rejoice!
I did promise another warning. I skipped over it because it’s
very sensitive to many people. Jesus warned, “When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty
words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be
heard.” [Matthew 6:7 CEB] Ever hear
someone pray the same words over and over and over again? Literally the idea
here is “vain repetition.” I can hear the objections; this is the way Jesus
taught us to pray.
Wrong. We “know” the “Lord’s prayer” but miss ONE word
before it. Let’s see if you can figure it out: “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed
be your name.” [Matthew 6:9 ESV] There
are several translations that omit the word or an equivalent idea, but doing so
misses Jesus’ point (and ignores the Greek). Once you see it, you will
understand that Jesus intended this prayer to be a model not a set formula or
something to mindlessly babble.
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