I’m not a saint. Far from it. Journeying through life, I’ve been rubbed the right and wrong ways. Each of these ‘rubs’ left quite a few ‘marks’. Maybe that’s why I see things with a bit of a ‘slant’.

A lot of what we call spirituality in the world I know falls under what happens to be ‘religious hypocrisy’. Don’t get me wrong. I am convinced that we all love God. Yes! Even the most debased of us.

But it’s either we are holy or we’re not; bearing in mind that the genuine desire to be holy is itself holiness, and that we only fool ourselves if we say we have no sin (cf. 1Jn.1:8).

I don’t know why, but each time I see folks struggling to LOOK all ‘religious’, a certain revulsion rises in my stomach. Hey! I’m not saying we shouldn’t ‘appear’ holy; we should by all means. All I’m saying is that ‘appearing holy’ is a complete waste of time, if there are no genuine efforts to be holy.

Not to mention that it’s completely stupid, knowing full well that God is OMNISCIENT. Helloooooo! Did you hear that? Our Father in heaven is not only omniscient, he is also OMNIPRESENT. What then is the point of faking spirituality? I don’t get it.

We live in a world where human beings who tend to be sincere with themselves and others are treated abysmally. We rather respect and expect pretense and pretentiousness. The very well dressed in Church is blessed by God, while the less privileged is cursed by the devil. We think the saints, sinners; and sinners, saints. We praise God in the daylight and worship mammon in secret. It’s a crazy frenzy!

Isn’t this why we build castles on lies and deception? Isn’t this why we would rather die than accept we’re wrong even when caught red handed?

No wonder thieves and swindlers climb pulpits and tell lies to gullible congregations. No wonder wolves masked as sheep continue to kill the very people they swore to serve and protect.

Isn’t it in the best interest of everyone to simply deal with their own flaws, without making faith in God seem like a competition?

The courageous ones are those who know they’re messed up, and are willing to do all they can to be saved. Forget about the Janus-faced perfectionists; the praise-singing murderers, and the Bible-wielding serpents.

Remember, there is a reason the publican was praised in the scriptures. It was not so much because he was flawed, than that he was COURAGEOUS enough to admit it, and HUMBLE enough to ask forgiveness (cf.Lk.18:13).

© Oselumhense Anetor, 2018.

Image Credit@PIXABAY