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| Photo by: marin |
In a Sky News
interview, Barbara Streisand was asked if she thought there was too much
pressure on women performers to conform to a certain size and shape. She
answered, “Yes. I think there’s too much emphasis on superficiality.”1
Superficiality means “the quality or state
of being superficial.”
Superficial means “concerned only with what
is obvious or apparent; affecting only the outer part or surface of something;
lying close to the surface.”2
We usually think
of these words when talking about face, hair, clothing, body size and
shape, etc. Superficial brings to
mind celebrities like Dolly Parton (with her big-hair blond wig, copious
make-up, and enhanced body) and recently deceased Joan Rivers (known for so
many face-lifts that she joked, “When I die, they’ll donate my body to Tupperware.”)
Magazines are filled with models that have been Photoshopped out of
recognition. Their necks are lengthened, their bodies whittled away. Every hint
of a blemish has been hidden. What you see, the superficial, isn’t even what
you actually see!
But,
superficiality isn’t only in the unreal expectations and presentations of our
day. There’s also superficiality in the church.
- The man gives a flowery testimony every Sunday of God’s
goodness and leadership in his life, yet he parties, drinks in excess, and carouses in night clubs on Saturday nights—every Saturday
night.
- The woman looks like a saint in church. Everyone thinks
she’s sweet, and good. Yet, she nags and badgers her husband, and she
cannot say anything positive to anyone in her family.
- The guy seems to be the nicest family man in the world, but
he’s cheating on his wife.
- The woman teaches Sunday school and posts Bible verses on
social media, yet she has a hidden side: she’s addicted to script porn.
- The man dresses up really sharp for church. No one looks
better . . . but he has an online poker habit that's threatening everything he
owns. Soon he’ll not be financially able to keep up his snappy dressing.3
In Jesus’ time, the
technology was lacking, but the problems were the same. The Pharisees were a group of religious Jews that were especially concerned with outside
appearances. They insisted on adding to the Mosaic Law all kinds of rites and
ceremonies. They had to wash their hands publicly in a specified way. They had
to measure just how far they walked on the Sabbath. Their religious traditions
began to take precedence over God’s Word.
Jesus wasn’t
pleased.
Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of
the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples
eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not,
holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except
they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have
received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of
tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples
according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He
answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as
it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far
from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men (Mark 7:1-7).
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they
are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which
is within the cup and platter, that the outside of
them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed
appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all
uncleanness (Matthew 23:25-27, similar in
Luke 11:39).
Do you remember the
story of the Pharisee and the publican? Two men went to the temple to pray.
The Pharisee made a huge show of praying. (It’s interesting that the Bible
points out that he prayed with himself,
and not to God.) He tells God how great he is and all about his good works. He
brags and brags. He even compares himself to others lower than he: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
this publican.
In contrast, the
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,
but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Jesus says, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified
rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and
he that humbleth himself shall be exalted
(Story in Luke 18:10-14).
When God inspired the Apostle
Paul with His Word, the Apostle instructed Timothy, This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall
come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural
affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God; Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
How superficial
are we? What’s really inside our
hearts?
Are we humble like the publican, acknowledging our own
sins, or do we show a pretty form of
godliness on the outside and have no real godliness inside?
God knows what’s inside. The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b).
Superficiality has no place in the Christian life.
Let’s be genuine. Let’s be real. Let’s be godly through
and through.
_______________________
1. Sky News interview, aired 9-16-2014.
2. Merriam-Webster
Online Dictionary
3. Not exactly the cases of any people I know. These are
typical, but only illustrations.
