Editorial - 2009 March/April - I Thought It Was Real
Have you ever walked into a department store and visualized a mannequin that looked almost real? Without thinking, you probably had to take a second look or touch it to be sure your eyes weren’t deceiving you. The makers of these mannequins have studied the anatomy and physiology of the human body with such detail that they are able to make their models appear as close to human as possible. They also consult with fashion designers to make sure the mannequin’s height and size complement the respective fashion attire. But regardless of how authentic mannequins look, they will always remain hollow and motionless because they are not real.
Like mannequins, there are Christians that appear real in church. They come dressed in the latest fashions, and sit attentively through worship services, even having Bibles in their hands occasionally. But a close-up view, amazingly, reveals that they, too, are hollow, often not showing signs of spiritual life over the course of years. Satan is pleased by this motionless behavior and lack of commitment to genuine spirituality. The hollow, motionless Chris-tians, on the other hand, often experience inner struggles, characterized by anxiety, worry, and unusually heavy burdens resulting from the guilt of sin. Consequently, religion becomes a yoke and a weight rather than a pleasure, which is far from God’s ideal for His children. The yoke that Christ offered His followers was an invitation to a new way of life: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Christ brought freedom from the meaningless rounds of rabbinical requirements of the ancient priests that made the followers of that time more like spiritual mannequins. The letter of the law was disproportionately emphasized by the priests, and in some cases literally written on their foreheads. They were more concerned with external modeling of religion than with honoring and serving God first in a heartfelt manner. Christ’s rebuke seems to say it best: “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. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:27, 28).
Without a doubt, Christ came to bring deliverance from this artificial form of religion. This issue is dedicated to Christian lifestyle, with special emphasis on developing genuine attributes that complement victorious living in Jesus Christ. Our writers have explored this topic from various perspectives that will hopefully inspire you to be consistently real in your spiritual journey. WJ2
| Washington Johnson, II D.Min - Editor of Message magazine |
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Washington Johnson II presently serves as editor of Message magazine at the Review and Herald Publishing Association in Hagerstown, Maryland. Message is one of the oldest, and most respected religious journals addressing current, inspirational and Christian issues in the United States. It began in1898, then known as the Gospel Herald. Read More >> |
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