The goal of this command is love,
which comes from
a pure heart
&
a good conscience
&
an unhypocritical faith.
(I Timothy 1:5)
The Christian persona is too often a mere caricature
of who Christ Jesus has called his followers to be.
The word most associated with this false persona is
"hypocrite."
The word "hypocrite" comes from the Greek, hypocrites, which translates as "one playing a part" or "actor." As a Greek theatrical term, the word literally means, "to answer from under a mask" (hypo = under; krites = answer). Ancient Greek theatre has contributed many words to English, including the word "theater" itself (from the verb theasthai meaning "behold"; a theater was literally a "place for viewing"). In early Greek drama, plays were presented communally by a choral group, the chorus; at some point, an actor was introduced to answer questions posed by the chorus. (The name of that first actor was Thespis, from which we get the name commonly applied to any actor, "thespian.") Actors in Greek plays often wore masks, designed with a trumpeted mouthpiece to amplify the voice. The mask that the actor wore showed the "person" (from persona, Latin [per = through; sona = sound] word also used for "mask") whom the actor was representing. One had to look under (hypo-) the mask to discover the identity of the one giving the answer (-crite)!
The Christian mask a hypocrite wears
may very well fool everyone,
except God, who always sees under the mask!
In Galatians 2:13 we read of how others joined Peter in his hypocrisy (synhypokrithesan) "so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray." Paul immediately recognized that such hypocrisy was "not acting in line with the truth of the gospel" (verse 14). Living like thiswas antithetical to living faithfully the way Jesus called his disciples to follow. Rather, Paul writes that, in order to live for God, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 5:20).
The process of faithful imitation of Christ is found in Ephesians 4:21 - 5:1.
- Put off the old self, be renewed, put on the new self in Christ:
"Surely your heard of Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to pur on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
- This new life leaves no place for hypocrisy:
"Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
- Speech has to be more than mere chatter and malicious gossip:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
- First among those listening is All-seeing God, who despises hypocrisy:
"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption"
(cf. Genesis 15:13 - El-Roi, "the God who sees").
- What, then, is one to do? Do what God did in Christ:
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Christians are called to do just as Christ did. This imitation (mimesis) of Christ differs vastly from being a hypocrite.
"Become imitators of God, therefore, as dearly beloved children
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us
and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Rather than joining others in their hypocrisy (synhypokrithesan), Christians are to become symmimetai (cf. Philippians 3:17), some mimics who are faithful followers together in Jesus Christ.
Hypocrisy stinks,
but
imitating Christ
leaves a pleasant fragrance
that proves one faithful
and true to one's calling.
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