Are you Faking It?

I worked in retail for several years, and whenever there is a corporate visit in the retail world, the standard is that the rack displays are full and the fixtures clean and spotless. Although that is the standard, reality is that most of the time the racks are nearly empty and the fixtures dusty and worn. During a corporate visit, it is poor etiquette to have executive directors walk through the store seeing empty racks, so as a result, as managers we asked associates to “fake it’ by creating an illusion that the racks are full. All the merchandise is brought to the front of the rack to create a full look - to create a fake look.

I often wondered why we used the phrase, “fake it”. Why did we give a false impression of something that is not real? Why not show the visitors the true condition of the store? How could executives invest in stores if they never knew its true condition? Before you criticize such deceitful store tactics, let’s examine your own lives, and answer the question, “do I fake it”? To be honest with you, I’ve been there, and know what it’s like to ‘’fake it” in order to give people a wrong impression of who I am. I also know what it’s like to let others think all is well with me when in reality, it’s the total opposite.

You would think such behaviour could only be displayed outside the church, since Christians should be the most humble, honest and transparent people out there, right? Well, sadly, this is the type of behaviour displayed by many Christians. I’ve seen many people who seem well put together and are adorned with the finest clothing and accessories, yet they are hurting on the inside, struggling with various issues and concealing numerous secrets. They are afraid to reveal who they truly are, so as a result, they fake it.

Why can’t we be open and honest?

Why can’t we let others know our struggles?

Why do we choose to conceal and not confess?

Why do we give a false impression of our marriage when we know all is not well?

Why do we display great affection towards our children in public, but at home we are at war with them?

Why do we fake it?

The unfortunate reality is we mask who we truly are, but on the inside we are battling with past hurts, deep wounds and unconfessed sin. How can we expect to walk in freedom if we choose to conceal the very things that keep us bound? I encourage you to peel off those layers and walk in the freedom that confession and honestly bring to our lives. It is never pleasant being vulnerable with others as it may lead to embarrassment, shame or even condemnation from others; nevertheless, your freedom shouldn’t be contingent upon what others might think or say about you. Walk in the light. There is freedom in the light.

I was speaking with a friend of mine and encouraged her to enter prayer with a humble heart that’s willing to confess and cast all its cares on the Creator. God desires for us to be honest with Him, as it shows we trust Him as our loving Father and desire to rid ourselves of anything that affects our communion with Him and others. When you think about it, it’s quite nonsensical to even think we can hide anything from the One who knows all things, so why not acknowledge His omniscience and confess to Him that which He already knew from the beginning of time.

A few years ago I read a book entitled, Confession of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel, to which he wrote,

“as I look at my own church, I see a lot of people I dislike. I despise what they stand for and how they live. It embarrasses me - makes me sick. One Christian stands out in my mind as the absolute worst. This guy bothers me the most. Keeps me up at night. Makes my stomach churn. The Christian I detest the most is….. me”

As a christian, he wasn’t walking honestly before others, and eventually became disgusted with the lie he was living. Fortunately, that morning at his church others joined him in confessing they had been living a lie as well. In Psalms 51:17 David said, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise”. Talk about being open and honest with God in prayer! Friends, you do not have to fake it any longer, there’s no need to pretend. God desires for us as his children to be honest with Him. Trust me, it’s such a freeing experience.

Just as we are called to walk honestly before God and men, as the body of Christ, we must also create a safe place where others do not hide in silence due to fear of being judged. When our brother or sister chooses to be transparent and confess their faults, we ought to restore them gently out of love, and not condemn them bitterly out of our own self-righteousness. There are many who walk around with a “form of godliness”, but inside they are like whitewashed tombs with dead men bones. They try to come across as perfect, yet fail to realize their own hypocrisy is what will eventually destroy them. In the parable in Luke 18, God honoured the prayer of the publican who humbly acknowledged he was a sinner in need of God’s mercy, whereas the self- righteous Pharisee approached prayer in arrogant pride and self-exaltation. Let us be as the humble publican who was willing to confess his sins before God and walk in freedom, since God is not like man who looks at the outward appearance but He looks at the heart. God knows our hearts. There is no need to “fake it” any longer.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1