Readings for today: 2 Samuel 12-14, Luke 20:1-26
Hypocrisy killed my grandmother. Her life was one for the history books. Literally. Widowed at a very young age with three young children, she moved them all from a small farming town in western Nebraska to Switzerland to live for two years. She traveled all over Europe during that time. Her kids learned multiple languages as well as how to ski in the Alps. When they came back home, she settled back in. Ran the family farm. Eventually remarried and added three more kids to the mix. One of them died at age 18. She lost her second husband during open heart surgery. Once the kids were out of the house, she pursued her nurses’ license. Studied a foreign language herself. She literally never stopped moving. However, the grief in her life eventually caught up to her and she looked for a way to ease her pain and guilt. Tragically, she got caught up in a cult. They convinced her to give them her land and her wealth. They convinced her to move to California. Her relationships with her children became strained. Right before the end of her life, the cult leader died. His successors publicly repented of their ways. They let all their followers know they intentionally been deceitful. My grandmother’s heart broke. She realized what she had done. She had acted against some of her most deeply held convictions. She literally spent hours writing in every book she owned, “Esther is a hypocrite.” I remember talking to her towards the end of her life, attempting to win her back to Christ. She and I talked about forgiveness. We talked about unconditional love. We talked about God dying for all our sin and guilt and shame. We talked about the power of the Holy Spirit to renew and cleanse and make us whole again. I still remember the day she called the house. I picked up the phone. All she said was, “Doug, you’re right.” (She had significant dementia by this point.) And then she hung up. It was the last time I spoke to her. I will remain forever grateful to the Lord for those final words because I know she had finally let go of the shame she felt over her hypocrisy and accepted the grace of God into her life.
Hypocrisy always leads to death. For David, it led to the tragic death of his infant child. It led the death of the peace and prosperity and unity of his reign. David was nothing before he met God. He was a shepherd in a field of a small backwater town that barely appeared on a map. Everything David achieved was because of God. Everything David now owned came from God’s own hand. All his victories. All his success. All his wealth and power and privilege. All of it came from God. But it wasn’t enough. David betrayed his deepest convictions when he raped Bathsheba. He compounded his crimes when he ordered the murder of Uriah. He sealed his fate when he attempted to cover up his sin. So God sends him a prophet. Nathan confronts David. Forces him to face the consequences of his hypocrisy. Thankfully, David repents. “For thus says the Lord…you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” (2 Samuel 12:12-13) But it is too late for his household. He has sown the wind and will reap the whirlwind. Civil war. Exile. The death of so many of his children.
Hypocrisy is the reason our nation is dying. I forced myself to watch all the speeches last night from both parties. Once again, I was bitterly disappointed. It’s astounding to me how many of our political leaders twist one another’s words to further their own agendas. They refuse to share any credit. They assume the absolute worst of those on the other side of the aisle. They do not act in good faith. In some cases, they simply outright lie. And the lack of integrity is tragically bipartisan. As such, they betray the very oaths they took when they raised their right hand and promised to do what is best for our country.
Hypocrisy is the reason the church in America is dying. Far too many priests and pastors abuse their positions of spiritual authority in all sorts of ways. The widespread scandal of sexual abuse of the most vulnerable in congregations is horrifying. The spiritual abuse of the people they serve is more subtle but just as destructive. The lure of celebrity is seemingly too hard to resist. The opportunity to leverage one’s position to accumulate great wealth and power and cultural influence is too tempting for many. Add to that an inability to humbly confront our own sinful legacies of pride and hate and is it any wonder so many are leaving the faith?
Hypocrisy is the reason I am dying on some level. Every time I betray my own deeply held convictions, I reminded of how easy it is for me to play the hypocrite. Every time I fail to serve my wife. Fail to honor my children. Fail to listen to those who are hurting in my own congregation. Every time I fail to assume the best of my critics. Fail to love those who are hard for me to love. Fail to pray for my enemies. I too am “that man” that Nathan talks about. And I would be lost indeed without my Savior Jesus Christ. He alone is faithful. He alone is steadfast. He alone is true. He is my Rock and my Redeemer. And His grace is enough. It was enough for my grandmother. It was enough for King David. It is enough for you. It is enough for me. It is enough for the church. It is enough for our nation. It is even enough for the world. Thanks be to God.
Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 15-16, Luke 20:27-47