The truth is that we care about what others think of us. It’s why we buy certain clothes, do our hair a certain way, drive certain vehicles, live in certain homes, and hang around with certain people. Heck, social cliques are often nothing more than group pretension, if you get right down to it; something Paul warned the Galatians about.
It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh [ref. group pretension]. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
— Galatians 6:12-15
While playing pretend can be fun, wanting to be someone you aren’t is a real tragedy. God made you just the way He wanted (repeat that to yourself the next time you’re complaining about yourself or your life). Could there be a more immediate prison sentence than to conclude you’d rather be someone you’re not? Seriously. Give that some thought. The sentence is twenty-four hours a day of guaranteed malcontent. The only escape is to reverse this judgment upon yourself and be set free by accepting yourself as God intended.
The Bible speaks a lot about pretentiousness. In the most severe, damaging cases, it uses the term “hypocrite”, which comes from the Greek word hupokrites, which means “actor”. A hypocrite is essentially an actor in the sense that they present themselves one way, but, in truth, they are something all-together different. The malignancy is the same, whether its mild pretension or its ugly cousin, hypocrisy - people who aren’t happy with themselves live to act like someone they aren’t. This is terribly hurtful to themselves for as long as they persist in this self-induced form of condemnation.
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3). Most people consider Paul the preeminent apostle in the Bible; yet, here’s how he considered himself.
The Bible speaks a lot about pretentiousness. In the most severe, damaging cases, it uses the term “hypocrite”, which comes from the Greek word hupokrites, which means “actor”. A hypocrite is essentially an actor in the sense that they present themselves one way, but, in truth, they are something all-together different. The malignancy is the same, whether its mild pretension or its ugly cousin, hypocrisy - people who aren’t happy with themselves live to act like someone they aren’t. This is terribly hurtful to themselves for as long as they persist in this self-induced form of condemnation.
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3). Most people consider Paul the preeminent apostle in the Bible; yet, here’s how he considered himself.
For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
— 1 Corinthians 15:9-10
Humility smashes pretension by fostering an acceptance of who we are in Christ. We are nothing more than sinners saved by grace. For our own sakes, we ought to remember this always!
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”
— Jeremiah 9:23-24
Please know that I am not writing this blog as a form of rebuke; rather, I am writing it for your well-being. God doesn’t want you spending your time wishing you were someone else or even wasting your time wishing you were born with different personal attributes. You are precious to Him - didn’t He prove this to you at the Cross?
Here’s a good example of my own struggle with pretension. I’m often tempted to look down my nose at the religious Jews during Jesus’ time. Their failures are so well recorded that it’s easy to throw stones at them. But, the truth is that I’m really sad for them because many of them are in Hell right now. I’m saddened also by the fact that there are so-called “Christians” nowadays who resemble them. I see them attending services in their Sunday best at the churches with the richest appearance. Jesus called folks like this “hypocrites...like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). Even so, He would’ve loved to have saved those who have been lost forever. In fact, Jesus wept for those still in bondage to sin (John 11:35).
Here’s a good example of my own struggle with pretension. I’m often tempted to look down my nose at the religious Jews during Jesus’ time. Their failures are so well recorded that it’s easy to throw stones at them. But, the truth is that I’m really sad for them because many of them are in Hell right now. I’m saddened also by the fact that there are so-called “Christians” nowadays who resemble them. I see them attending services in their Sunday best at the churches with the richest appearance. Jesus called folks like this “hypocrites...like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). Even so, He would’ve loved to have saved those who have been lost forever. In fact, Jesus wept for those still in bondage to sin (John 11:35).
And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
— Mark 12:38-40
Humans love to play pretend. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with it for as long as it stays a game, for entertainment’s sake. However, when you develop an unhealthy affinity for, and a desire to be, someone else, the fun stops and the agony begins. Others may express a distaste for your pretension, but you are the one who suffers the most. The Bible is full of characters who made a conscious decision to live a lie, creating avatars instead of being themselves. Today, we have social media to help us in this unholy endeavor. But, let’s not blame Facebook. The truth is that we’re actors performing in prison cells for as long as we persist in rejecting God’s grace in creating us as we are. Does this mean we succumb to the flesh and say, “Well, God made me this way, so I’ll just be me and keep on sinning”? May it never be! It simply means to accept who you are, in humility, for this is the way of sanctification. Jesus said, “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). The best place to start this journey towards freedom is to be true to yourself.
Be yourself, for yourself.
Be yourself, for yourself.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
