Our lives can be ritualistic, a pantomime of great expression. I sometimes get the feeling that the reality of who we are is lost in what it is we are trying to project. (Somebody out there is thinking; “Speak for yourself.” I don’t discount myself in this. However, I suspect a number of readers can also identify.) Our lives can become a ritual; what it is we want people to perceive. Perhaps what we want people to see in us are things that have a noble idea, a virtuous notion, something from the Bible. However, the ritual of our lives is insidious. It is like a stain that covers our whole life, so that we don’t even know it is a stain. The stain is the most ugly when it projects an appearance of righteousness. “He wears his sincerity well.” It is not a bad thing to want to be righteous. The problem resides in wanting people to perceive a thing about us. (“What will they say if. . . ?”) When, in fact, it is not so much what others think. “. . . but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Heb.4:13) When man is the basis for approval more than God, the life becomes crosshatched with weirdness as exemplified in the following paragraph.
A congregation videoed a worship service for broadcasting. The whole scene was disturbing; brethren sitting up straight, holding hymnals with proper posture, all singing with gusto and fervor. Not a hair out of place. It was disturbing because it was unreal; wooden and manic. It would have appeared more natural if there were some folks slouching, or yawning, or a baby crying. However, I don’t think being natural is possible under such circumstances; studied nonchalance for the sake of appearing spiritual. . .ha!
I hope this wasn’t the way they lived. Maybe this occurred because the camera was on. This can make us feel as if we have to appear a certain way; we have to project. Unfortunately, we can perceive something like this as a model for everyday living. Thus, the camera is on all the time, so to speak. We have to wrestle with it. Turn that thing off. . .
This Psalm of David has the remedy:
Ps 51:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 ¶ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.