You're a Phony!

Guess what? You're a phony. It's true. Don't worry, I won't tell. I won't tell anyone that you really aren't as spiritual as you appear to be. I won't mention those secret sins that haunt you,  those thoughts that no good Christian should be having. It'll be just between you and me... especially those words you screamed when the idiot pulled out in front of you.

We'll keep it a secret because... I'm a phony too.

We preacher types are good at it. We excel at it. We have perfected the art of hiding visible sins, preferring to wrestle with secret ones. We put on airs and smiles, talking all "preacherly" and pious when in your presence at church. We've got it down to a tee.

But deep down, we know we're phonies too. We find ourselves thinking things like, "What if those church members saw me right now?" "What if they could see inside my mind?" "If they knew the things I struggled with, they'd tar and feather me."

Personal confession time: two truths ring soundly in my life:

(1) I feel as if the things I preach are not the things I practice.

(2) I feel unworthy to deal with 95% of the situations I deal with as a pastor.

I'm a phony. What can I say? I'm not as good as I want to be. I'm not as spiritual as I should be. I'm not as holy as I should be.

What if I told you that the goal of the Christian faith is to quit being a phony, but not in the way you think?

What if the goal of the Christian faith isn't to get better, but to love the One who is better?

Let me say that again, but in bold text, because that makes me appear more spiritual and wise.

The goal of the Christian faith isn't to get better, but to love the One who is better.

You're a phony when you try to act in a way you're not. Stop it. Stop trying. It's not working. Some preacher will tell you to do more, try harder, or feel guiltier, but it won't do any good. The truth is you're never going to get better on your own.

That's why Jesus came. Let me share a verse with you.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

There's a ton of good stuff in that verse. Jesus was perfect. He was absolutely perfect. Why? The verse tells you. So that He can initiate a trade. Your sin for His righteousness. What a trade. Sort of one-sided, huh?

What this verse means for me is that I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. That's who I am. That's my identity. That defines me. Because of Christ, God sees me as completely and utterly righteous. Do you disagree? Are you angry? Confused? That's ok. Many preachers don't believe this either. But it's true. This is the Gospel.

So you don't have to be a phony. You don't have to be a phony because this thing isn't about you, anyway. Works didn't save you, so works won't sanctify you. The key to "getting better" is just to love the One who is better. The One who was perfect. The One who did all the work. Embrace this, and you'll find freedom. Reject this, and you'll continue down the road of legalism, moralism, and works-based slavery in which many unfortunate Christians are trapped.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5 (ESV)

Abide. Abide in Jesus. You'll bear fruit. This is the Gospel. This is Amazing Grace.

By His Grace,

Adam