Be True
by Tom Brown
We are afraid to be honest. None of us are who we wish we were, who we know we should be, or as far along as we would like others to think. Sometimes we even trick ourselves into thinking that we have arrived, but life has a way of taking off our mask and revealing the truth beneath. We are afraid of honesty because honesty is exposure. When we confess our struggles, our fears, our depression, our anxiety, our addictions, our bad habits, our corrupt past… when we confess the things that are boiling in the belly of our soul we are afraid that our honesty will be our end. We tremble at the haunting question,“Who could love someone like me?”
One of the thorns which our enemy has sewn into the side of humanity is a relentless pressure to never be a burden. We feel this pressure all too often, like when someone asks us, “How are you doing?” We fear being honest because we don’t want to be a burden. When we get together with family for the holidays and someone says, “How are things going in your marriage?” We somehow force our lips against their will and paste a smile on our face because we don’t want to be a burden. Or what about when we finally crack open the chamber of our heart and begin to let out some of the pain and confusion and despair, what are we always so quick to follow up with? “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be a burden.” This seems to be a service we offer one another, to bear up under our own load, to never ask someone else to play the hand we have been dealt, but does it actually serve anyone in the end? Aren’t we still feeling heavy laden and down trodden? Aren’t we weary of trying to make it through life on our own?
The world offers an enticing answer to the weary heart, “Think less on your problems and more on the good things in your life.” Having read this statement you may be thinking, "Ahh, yes, here is some sound advice!" But, sadly, no; this advice does not minister to the wound of soul that every human being carries, it only hides it. The world offers a bandaid to cover the hemorrhaging, but no true remedy to heal the injury. Instead of honesty with others, by calling out for help in time of need, the world says that we should actually increase our dishonesty by being dishonest even with ourselves. “Ignore your pains and your problems. What you need is a good night on the town! What you need is a new outfit! What you need is to get out of this marriage! What you need is a new car, or house, or job, or location, or…” The answer offered for the problem of pain by the world is dishonesty and entertainment. You know exactly what this looks like, especially if you have children. Have you ever had your little one bump their head or knee and begin crying, and because you were in a rush and needed a quick solution what did you do? “It’s okay Sweetie, here’s a cookie!” To be clear, I am not condemning this tactic for soothing children, sometimes a cookie is just the medicine we need. But are you letting the world offer you this same kind of remedy as an adult? God offers more than a bandaid and more than a cookie, he offers us true healing through the path of honesty.
Early in the Gospel of Mark Jesus says something to the Pharisees that has radically opened my eyes to the truth of Christianity. The Pharisees, who were trying to hide their own struggles through religious activity, saw Jesus associating with the lowest of lows in their town. Instead of the Son of God having dinner with them, (the religious elite), he was having dinner with people who were known to be thieves, and drunkards, and prostitutes. The Pharisees were flabbergasted at this because they thought, “Surely if this man is who he says he is then he would want to be with us! After all, we are the religious ones! We are the ones who have it all together!” Jesus heard them and gave a reply that I hope will resound in your heart. He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners,” (Mark 1:17). God doesn’t deal with the problem of our pain and sinfulness with naivety, but rather with full disclosure. What Jesus just said to the world is that the reason he came to this earth is because we need help. The God of heaven is not looking for people who are eating the world's cookies and wearing the world's bandaids, he is looking for people calling out in time of need, people who are willing to confess their sin and believe.
When Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician…” he was making a very important point. He was not saying that some people don’t have problems and therefore don’t need God’s help. Instead, he was saying that only those who are willing to be honest and admit that they have problems will actually receive God’s help. It was a call to the world to stop pretending and to be true. And it was a promise to the world that when they do, God will provide everything they need through his Son, Jesus.