Recently I finished the novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird". A very well known and loved book, and as such I figured I should give it a try. It certainly wasn't what I expected, but did keep me captive throughout. Many things struck me about the book, I suppose this is why thousands of school children have had to write essays about it, there are many things to be struck by. Yet one stood out to me, not because it was greater or more worthy of my attention than the other issues in the book, but because it was one I had spoken on the day before.
Ever had that happen to you? You are studying something, reading something, and suddenly ideas, pictures, themes, words, stories related to it pop up. Like when you buy a new car (although I can't say I ever have), before the purchase yours is the only one of that model you have ever seen on the road, but after they seem to be everywhere. It would be great to know if this is because of our heightened awareness, or because someone somewhere is hammering the point home (I'm not talking about cars anymore). I am sure it is at times elements of both.
Anyway, back to the issue, the one that stood out, that has inspired me to write these words. In the story, near the end of the book, the main character is in class at school and one of her classmates is doing a presentation on the Nazi's, Hitler and the persecution of the Jewish people. During his presentation, the teacher speaks about how she is strongly against what Hitler was doing, declaring him and his actions as evil. This troubles Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch, our main character, somewhat, yet we don't know why. Until she speaks with her Brother. In this conversation, she tells of what happened at school, not understanding her dilemna, she goes on, recalling a few weeks prior, when coming out of the courthouse from the trial of a black man, she heard her teacher say that the black people were getting above themselves and needed putting in their place. Scout then says “Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home” (To Kill A Mockingbird, Ch. 26) She had noticed something in her teacher, something she didn't see as right; hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is ugly. Nobody likes to be called a hypocrite, yet at times many of us are worty of the name. The orgin of the word hypocrite, comes from Greek theatre, hypocrite being a greek word. It means actor, or more literally one who wears a mask. In greek plays there would be only a couple of actors, and those actors would wear different masks to depict different characters and emotions. It is from this concept that you get the well known image of two masks, one happy, one sad, overlapping each other to represent theatre. So a hypocrite is someone who play acts.
Our world is full of play actors, and people who wear masks, so much so that I think we all fall foul to it. With a burning desire to fit in, to be accepted, we feel being ourselves isn't adequate, so pretend to be someone we are not, our mask goes on. Many of us, I am sure, have masks for certain groups of people, friends, family, or work places. Yet what the world needs is authentic people, people who will only make promises they can keep, walk the walk as much as they talk the talk, and who don't contradict their words with their actions.
In his book "Discipleship", David Watson says that Christianity is about relationships, with God, and with other people. He states we can be both easily decieved and easily deceitful in these relationships. Jesus harshest words were reserved for people he called hypocrites, and I am sure this title shocked both those he aimed it at, and those hearing it. Sticking with the idea of theatre, we often picture the Pharisees as the Pantomime Villain, booed every time they enter the scene. We know they were the 'bad guys' because Jesus words and history tell us so. Yet in their day, they would have been well respected, loyal in their duties, obedient to their laws, and seen to be religious and godly. But, as David Watson says they were deceitful in their relationship with God.
It is as if the Pharisees, are on the stage of life, seeking to put on a performance that would please God, but instead of being themselves, and honest with who God made them to be, they made for themselves structures, laws; masks with which to perform. This was not as God intended, and he stopped enjoying the show a long time ago. Hence he sent his Son, to show people they don't have to wear masks, they can be themselves, and they can be set free from the bondage of play acting. The best way to break, and even avoid hypocrisy is to be real with each other, and with God.
This is the true essence of discipleship, 'keeping it real'. People joke about christians sitting around campfires, holding hands while singing kumbaya. It doesn't need to be as manufactured as that, but I quite like the image of some friends sitting round a campfire, sharing their fears, their dreams, their experiences. I guess this is why when Jesus came back from the dead, he went and had breakfast on the beach with his disciples, because he wanted them to be real.
I hope some of this has made sense to you. Hypocrisy is ugly, yet play acting can appeal, they are one of the same thing. Jesus calls us to be disciples, and this means we need to be real, accepting Jesus means accepting his reality, and it doesn't involve wearing a mask. Be real, be real with God, with your friends and with your family.
Ever had that happen to you? You are studying something, reading something, and suddenly ideas, pictures, themes, words, stories related to it pop up. Like when you buy a new car (although I can't say I ever have), before the purchase yours is the only one of that model you have ever seen on the road, but after they seem to be everywhere. It would be great to know if this is because of our heightened awareness, or because someone somewhere is hammering the point home (I'm not talking about cars anymore). I am sure it is at times elements of both.
Anyway, back to the issue, the one that stood out, that has inspired me to write these words. In the story, near the end of the book, the main character is in class at school and one of her classmates is doing a presentation on the Nazi's, Hitler and the persecution of the Jewish people. During his presentation, the teacher speaks about how she is strongly against what Hitler was doing, declaring him and his actions as evil. This troubles Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch, our main character, somewhat, yet we don't know why. Until she speaks with her Brother. In this conversation, she tells of what happened at school, not understanding her dilemna, she goes on, recalling a few weeks prior, when coming out of the courthouse from the trial of a black man, she heard her teacher say that the black people were getting above themselves and needed putting in their place. Scout then says “Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an‘ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home” (To Kill A Mockingbird, Ch. 26) She had noticed something in her teacher, something she didn't see as right; hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is ugly. Nobody likes to be called a hypocrite, yet at times many of us are worty of the name. The orgin of the word hypocrite, comes from Greek theatre, hypocrite being a greek word. It means actor, or more literally one who wears a mask. In greek plays there would be only a couple of actors, and those actors would wear different masks to depict different characters and emotions. It is from this concept that you get the well known image of two masks, one happy, one sad, overlapping each other to represent theatre. So a hypocrite is someone who play acts.
Our world is full of play actors, and people who wear masks, so much so that I think we all fall foul to it. With a burning desire to fit in, to be accepted, we feel being ourselves isn't adequate, so pretend to be someone we are not, our mask goes on. Many of us, I am sure, have masks for certain groups of people, friends, family, or work places. Yet what the world needs is authentic people, people who will only make promises they can keep, walk the walk as much as they talk the talk, and who don't contradict their words with their actions.
In his book "Discipleship", David Watson says that Christianity is about relationships, with God, and with other people. He states we can be both easily decieved and easily deceitful in these relationships. Jesus harshest words were reserved for people he called hypocrites, and I am sure this title shocked both those he aimed it at, and those hearing it. Sticking with the idea of theatre, we often picture the Pharisees as the Pantomime Villain, booed every time they enter the scene. We know they were the 'bad guys' because Jesus words and history tell us so. Yet in their day, they would have been well respected, loyal in their duties, obedient to their laws, and seen to be religious and godly. But, as David Watson says they were deceitful in their relationship with God.
It is as if the Pharisees, are on the stage of life, seeking to put on a performance that would please God, but instead of being themselves, and honest with who God made them to be, they made for themselves structures, laws; masks with which to perform. This was not as God intended, and he stopped enjoying the show a long time ago. Hence he sent his Son, to show people they don't have to wear masks, they can be themselves, and they can be set free from the bondage of play acting. The best way to break, and even avoid hypocrisy is to be real with each other, and with God.
This is the true essence of discipleship, 'keeping it real'. People joke about christians sitting around campfires, holding hands while singing kumbaya. It doesn't need to be as manufactured as that, but I quite like the image of some friends sitting round a campfire, sharing their fears, their dreams, their experiences. I guess this is why when Jesus came back from the dead, he went and had breakfast on the beach with his disciples, because he wanted them to be real.
I hope some of this has made sense to you. Hypocrisy is ugly, yet play acting can appeal, they are one of the same thing. Jesus calls us to be disciples, and this means we need to be real, accepting Jesus means accepting his reality, and it doesn't involve wearing a mask. Be real, be real with God, with your friends and with your family.
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