Duplicity is one of the greatest threats to the moral fiber of our society. We see it everyday: sports heroes caught doing drugs, exemplary actors and actresses caught up in crime and politicians caught telling lies and stealing from the poor. While many have been caught, many others are yet to be discovered. This duplicity, or inauthentic living has become so common in our society today that many are unable to recognize it and its consequences.
In the middle of such deception and deceit, many people cry out, “Where is God? How can there be so much evil in this world? If God would truly the Ruler of the universe, why does He allow so many bad things to happen?”
In my ministry I find myself having this conversation on a regular basis. My response usually contains an explanation of man’s free will and the reality that man has pushed God to the outskirts of society, rejecting His plan for life on earth.
As Christians we must realize that the only way to show a better way is to live authentically, without duplicity. The simplicity of the Christian faith allows our yes to be yes, and our no to be no. We do not need to make vain promises nor do we need to dazzle people with our eloquence. Yet, what we need to live is a holistic life, in that what we say and do, go together hand and hand, in step with our Lord and Savior.
If we do not live like Jesus, if we refuse to be God’s hands and feet on earth, then the world will have no choice but to reject God and His perfect plan. Without contact with authentic living, the future of our world seems rather bleak. Let us, then, live as Christ, freely choosing to do the will of our Father. May we say with Jesus, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Jonathan Hanegan 