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Dear Arthur and Sandra:
How do you reconcile "putting on the new self" which is
contrary to our natural, sinful selves, and not being hypocritcal
and fake? For example, let's say I'm having a bad day. How
can I genuinely smile and minister to a miserable girl sitting
by herself?
I appreciate your question. I think we all wrestle with
those exact feelings and thoughts. I think the truth of the
matter is, we are all more or less hypocrites to God and each
other. There is so much unconscious and sub-conscious stuff
in us that we have little or no control over. Even the small
percentage of thoughts that we do try to take control over
are full of inconsistencies. We, or should I say, I, could
never come to God thinking that I am totally pure and have
all godly thoughts and passion for Him. I will look forward
to the day after I die when I might be able to be fully sanctified
and be able to approach Him without hypocrisy. As long as
I am in the body, I don't think it will happen.
If we, therefore, cannot be consistent with God, how much
more are we a bundle of confusion when it comes to others?
So, for starters, I think we should ALWAYS approach God with
full humility and "worminess". We can never approach Him self-righteously.
We should always approach Him as "poor in spirit" (naked and
cringing in a dark corner). He already knows fully our frailty
and inconsistencies.
As for other people, what good would it be if we were to
let all people know all our likes and dislikes of them and
others every moment of our fluctuating life? We know our evil
and critical thoughts, but would it be loving to let it "all
hang out" so we wouldn't be "hypocritical"? I think we are
being hypocritical when we DENY our true feelings. I don't
think we are being hypocritical when we recognize our lack
of love, commit it to the Lord, ask Him for love for so and
so and move on.
He already knows if we don't like a certain person. We might
not be "hypocritical" to act out our dislikes and offense
of someone, but in that case, we lack discernment, wisdom,
and self-control. If there is someone we don't particularly
"like", we need to confess it to the Lord, ask Him for love
for that person and patiently wait on Him to reveal what the
next move may be. In the mean time, we don't spread slander,
although we can seek godly counsel. After praying about the
situation, the Lord may guide you to seek reconciliation with
the person, but I don't think the Lord would ever guide you
to be vengeful, embarrass the person, or be rude to the person.
Sandra
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