Transparency

I just finished watching the Presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. One of the things that impressed me the most was the transparency I have seen coming from John McCain. There is a sense that our leaders have to be perfect in every aspect of their lives although we all know that nobody is perfect. McCain was willing to admit mistakes on policy issues in the past and how they have shaped his political career and will shape his Presidency, if elected. In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, McCain admitted that the torture he endured during his imprisonment in Vietnam had "broken" him. Some may look at this as a sign of weakness. I see it as a admission of his humanity. If we are honest, all of us have failed or struggled in our lives. But, we would also admit that our weaknesses and failings can make us stronger and can be used to bring people to us who have experienced similar struggles as we have. I have not agreed with McCain on every issue, but I admire a man who can get up there and be open and honest about his experiences when he is in a line of work that sees weakness as evidence of being unfit for duty.

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1: 8-11

As Christians we can sometimes feel that when someone comes to us who is struggling in a sin, or doesn't know the Lord, that we need to project an image of perfection in order to win them over. But, when you think about it, what is the best way to win the confidence of another? Is it not through being honest and open about our experiences? One of the first things a Christian learns to talk about is their testimony. Most testimonies are full of our failures in the midst of coming the know Christ. We use those failures to give us credibility when talking with someone who doesn't know Christ. Often times an unbeliever has a misconception of what it means to be a Christian. Unfortunately, that misconception can be traced back to Christians who believe they can act, or someday will act, perfect and never face any difficulties in life. We end up becoming our own worst enemies and of no earthly good to those we encounter. The Apostle Paul talked of how his suffering for the faith was so intense at times that he wanted to die! And let us not forget how he called himself the least of the Apostles because he persecuted the Church. This type of honesty flies in the face of the idea that we have to mask our struggles and difficulties as if admitting them diminishes Christ in some way. We forget that if we didn't struggle and didn't face trials in life than we would not need Jesus Christ. Much of the Bible is about man's failure and God's faithfulness in the midst of our struggles. Our desire is to point people towards Christ and His sufficiency. We are seen as perfect by God, but that does not mean that we will always act perfect.

"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6: 1-5

One of my biggest struggles early on in my walk with the Lord was with abusing alcohol. It took me three years after being saved before I could declare any sort of victory over this sin that I was caught in. Years later I found myself driving a relative of mine around town who was visiting from out of state. Surprisingly, he had been drinking and was quite intoxicated, although I didn't realize it when he got in my car. During our ride he wasn't able to control himself and vomited out the car window. He was very apologetic and agreed to wash my car to clean it up. My reaction was to comfort him. Yes, he shouldn't have been drunk and I did not want my car sprayed with whatever he had consumed. However, it takes one to know one. He didn't do anything that I hadn't done in my life. When he realized I was not upset and didn't condemn him he felt comfortable enough to open up to me about some issues he was going through and we grew closer to each other as a result. One thing I knew is that the last thing my relative needed was a lecture about the evils of drunkenness. The embarassment of what he had done, the impending hangover and the sick feeling he had was punishment enough. What he needed was to be restored and for me to allow the love and forgiveness that G0d has shown towards me to be expressed to him. His problems were deeper than having too much to drink, as were mine when I was drinking. If I had come across as though I was better than he was or as if I had never walked in his shoes, I don't think I would have been of much use to the Lord. In fact, I believe our struggles in life are used by God for those exact instances. We are reminded of how we once were and how we would have wanted to be treated. This humbles us enough so that we share words of love rather than of rebuke. Hopefully, by doing so, those we touch will be intrigued enough to seek the source of our actions, Jesus Christ.

"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19: 5-10

What is the duty of every Christian? It is to share the Gospel message with the world in an effort to seek and to save what was lost. I don't see any other way in which to do that than to be open and honest about why we needed Jesus Christ. Nine times out of ten that starts with being transparent about our failures and struggles which revealed our need to be saved. When those we desire to reach see that we have problems as well, then we can show them the answer to those problems. The alternative is putting up a false front of perfection that only serves to turn off those we want to reach and could lead to them being antogonistic towards our message. I remember as a child how I could see right through the churchgoers who tried to put up the image that they had it altogether. However, it didn't take a trained eye to see just how phony these people were. The effect it had was to turn me off of the message they were trying to proclaim. I don't believe my experience is unique. I am sure their are numerous individuals out there who need the Lord, but who believe that what He offers is the phony Christianity so many Christians portray. To them we can look like the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz who was exposed as a fraud. What the world needs from Christians is a reality check. The world needs to know that what we have in Christ does not make us better then them. What we have in Christ makes us better off. And when they see that the path they are on has already been traveled by us, they will be more apt to continue on the path right into the saving arms of Jesus Christ.