“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6: 16-18).
I was talking with a gentleman who told me how much he enjoys reading what clergy write on the Devotional Pages in the newspaper on Saturdays. I thanked him, assuming he was including me in his praise.
He added, “I almost didn’t recognize you from the picture in the paper.” There was a nervous pause while I waited to see how he extricated himself from that remark. He added, “It must really be an old picture.”
Well, it is not that old…
His comment gave me pause to think about how many faces we have as Christians. We have public faces and private faces, angry faces, sad faces, troubled faces, and happy faces, to name a few. Our faces reflect our moods, letting people know what we want them to think about us, or sense about us.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Some folks even have religious faces, they might wear them at prayer, in the pulpit, or when we want people to see us looking longingly at heaven, or as we sing religious songs. It is a small wonder that non-Christians, or angry and cynical Christians, like to talk about how “hypocritical” we are, or two-faced. I think their criticism is often mislaid.
The truth is, Christians try to “lead with their best face forward.” It is not that we are saying one thing while living another in order to fool people, but rather we are presenting, as best we can, the person we aspire to be.
Look around on Sunday mornings. People who haven’t got two pennies to rub together, will clean themselves off, dress themselves up, and put forward their best face to attend services. Why? It isn’t to impress anyone. It is out of respect for God and our neighbor. We may feel our life is in chaos, or that we live in a filthy, dirty, mess, but by presenting ourselves in the House of the Lord as best we can, we show respect, and we show we aspire to be more than we are at present. We are working on the “perfected” vision of ourselves.
“The Church is filled with sinners and hypocrites,” a friend once told me. I responded, “No, not filled, I can think of a space for one more who needs to be there.”
Yes, the Church is filled with sinners, but just because we are in Church doesn’t mean we are hypocrites.
They are not in Church to impress others, but to proclaim the glory of God, and acknowledge God’s love in their hearts and minds, through worship and praise — with others in the same boat.
Rather we “dress for success,” meaning we point to the vision of ourselves as God is calling us to be, perfected through His love, empowered to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Yet we strive for the goal, allowing more and more of God’s glory to be revealed in us. I would not trade places with the wealthiest, best-looking, most disciplined, but lost soul, for anything in the world. I prefer God continue to work in me. God offers all the love and justification I need.
The Rev. Walter Van Zandt Windsor is rector at Trinity Episcopal Church.
• • •
Editor’s note: Pastors or associate pastors interested in writing for this section may submit articles to pbcnews@pbcommercial.com. Please include your phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.