NO HYPOCRISY July 25, 2020
This afternoon I logged in
to a webinar that discussed managing millennial CPAs or co-workers, and it was
very informative and interesting. One
thing that stuck with me was that millennials, those born between 1981 to 1996,
are actually very concerned about social issues, and would make it a point to
work with somebody or with an organization that upholds the right values. They may seem like they lack loyalty, with
many being predominantly job-hoppers, but in fact, they are actually just
seeking meaning in the work that they do.
This is an eye-opener, when
viewed in the light of the Word today, in the epistle of the Apostle Paul to
the Galatians, chapter 2. I believe this
is the only place where the apostle talked about a slight conflict with the Apostle
Peter, but with serious doctrinal issues.
Because it deals with those issues that are still resonant in our days—that
of racism, hypocrisy and double-standard.
We read that the Apostle Paul rebuked the Apostle Peter because when he
was preaching to the brethren in Antioch, Syria, considered Gentiles, therefore
non-Jewish, he lived like them; but distanced himself upon arrival of the other
Jewish Apostles. And we get to read the
Apostle Paul’s declaration of what true salvation and adoption into GOD’s
kingdom really is—it is not a matter of works, or outward appearance of
complying with traditions set by religious and political leaders, but a matter
of faith, or a convicted heart who leaves a sinful life behind, and dedicates
the rest of its days to obeying GOD’s will in our lives.
Something that can be
outwardly seen as a matter of race relations and peer pressure, indeed actually
is something that has a bearing on our spiritual lives. When a person feels superior to others and
looks down on people of other communities or cultures who do not share their
skin color, language, financial and social status, or educational background,
it might be a natural human tendency to defend against fear of the unknown and
the misunderstood. But it actually shows
spiritual and emotional poverty. When a
person thinks they know too much, and therefore can sit in judgment and
criticism of others who they think are less educated, less informed, and who
are physically and materially less endowed, the human mind sees a pompous
airhead. But it actually shows that that
person is devoid of spiritual wisdom, whose character as yet is unformed,
ill-bred and immature.
And millennials, and even Generation
Zs (those born 1997 until present), can see through all of that. That is why both the webinar and the Word
tells us from the previous generations to get our acts right. We are the ones who set the stage for these
two generations to follow, and if we live our lives with duplicity and ulterior
motivations covered in outward acts of friendliness, chumminess, pakikisama, or
fitting in with the crowd, we prove to be un-credible with our witness, we
prove inadequate to teach them anything of value (particularly now that they
see us 24-7 studying and working from home), and whenever we criticize or
reprimand them, will only get insulted back in return.
Maybe instead of feeling
resentful or angry, this should be our wake up call. Instead of trying to prove ourselves to the
world, maybe we should stop it and instead let GOD’s Spirit live in us. When He paid for our sins on the cross, He earned
the right to be Our Redeemer. When we
accept that gift of salvation from Him, He becomes our Savior and Lord. The last two verses say that, “I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of GOD, who
loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do
not frustrate the grace of GOD: for if righteousness came by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain.”
Indeed, with GOD, there can
be no hypocrisy. And if we start living
our lives with Him and in Him, even without measuring our every step, we will
be assured of being given the grace to live a consistent life, one that is able
to teach, credible to rebuke and discipline, and worthy of respect and
emulation.
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