by Noval – Feb 2005
“We are not sinless saints; we are saints who sin. It’s important to keep honest account of our failures and pick up our cross daily. When we become aware of a discrepancy between our identity and our behavior, we must confess it and deal with it.”
I love Dr Anderson’s term ‘discrepancy between identity and behaviour.” A brother really ministered life to me years ago. I was in the middle of confessing a sin to him (probably some sort of lust) and made a comment about “feeling like a hypocrite being in church and worshipping”. He cut me off and said “NO. It was the sin that was hypocritical. Worship is who you REALLY are.”
Recall the term “hypocrite” is rooted in Greek drama. A hypocrite was a stage actor. We all play all sorts of roles. Part of Tony’s earlier post was pointing out that the road to health and holiness involves discerning our tendency to play act instead of being real. But it’s important to remember who the “real me” really is if I’m born again. The “real me” is described in Psalm 1 (1st half!!), Galatians 5:22-23, 1st Corinthians 13 and Romans 12, etc. So our goal is to put off the old “false self” user and manipulator and put on the new “real self” lover and servant.
But won’t that mindset promote a subtle arrogance and pride? Not if I stay in touch with where the New, Real Me comes from. I didn’t achieve, earn or attain a bit of it in my own strength!!
Because the reality is….
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2:20)