Every once in a while, I get hooked into a documentary about
art forgery. It is amazing the detail
and work that goes into a good forgery, and correspondingly, the hours and
expertise it takes to spot one.
But why make such a
fuss over a good reproduction? If a
painting looks so much like a Picasso that no one else can tell the difference
without a special scanning device, then
why all the uproar?
But for the art community, it does matter and it matters to the
tune of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars. A painting by Picasso holds great value and
prestige not only because of the beauty of the painting, but because of the
history, skill, and context of an artist’s life in a certain place and time. Authenticity, i.e., artistic purity is highly
valued.
Moralism is the
enemy of purity, integrity, and
authenticity. On its surface, moralism
looks
helpful, but the surface
is deceiving. Moralism is very concerned
with what it does and how it looks. It
is obsessed with public relations and the perceptions of those that it is
trying to impress or motivate. Moralism,
in its most basic definition, is the
doing of good things, the embrace of good behavior, and the measurability of said things in comparison
with others. Moralism is
self-serving under the guise of serving and sacrificing for others. This is why it is such a dangerous,
capricious, and duplicitous enemy. It
(and the Evil One’s subtle use of it) often fools us all.
Moralism produces
visible and short-lived behaviors without changing a person’s beliefs and
character. In other words, if the
“heart” of a person or an organization does not change, a lasting, loving,
authentic behavior will not take root.
Integrity cannot be faked, and in the end,
is seen most clearly when one has something to be gained or lost. Only a “heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11:19-20)
can be genuine in its intentions and good works.
Our true character is revealed when it matters when the pressure is on, and when doing
what is right trumps every other option…even if it means our pain and
discomfort. We can fake activity and
surface do-gooding, but our motivations remain what they are. Only resurrection power that is welcomed and
embraced can change the condition of our true character.
As we begin our
series on the “Authentic Christian Life” in C.E. in September, we look to
engage what the scriptures (and our Lord) teaches us about the importance and
impact of genuine authenticity. In his
book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
challenges the common misconceptions often engaged by those who are more
concerned with how they look, than with who they really are. We will be using this book as we try to flesh out what it means to grow in our ability
to be truly pure vessels; to be shaped and effective in the hands of our
creator for Gospel and Kingdom living.
Come join us as we seek our God.