Follow me here… because this silly comparison might be quite profound. Having worked in vocational ministry for 10+ years, I’ve heard all too often the reasons why people are frustrated with “the Church.” While the reasons do vary, the most common one can be summarized with one word: hypocrisy. Even those who are not part of a Church community have a certain perception of how Christians should be. People expect Christians to be, well, like Christ. That makes sense, right? Absolutely! And while we all are (hopefully!) on a journey of growth and maturity, the reality is we are all far messier than we are comfortable admitting. It is like the phrase “Instagram versus reality.” We like to put up a front that looks well put together on social media, which often is more glamorous than reality. Hence, hypocrisy.

The word for “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word for an “actor” or someone who wears a mask in a play. It speaks to someone putting on a show, not being authentic to what’s true under the mask. The Church is at its best when grace is our daily diet and when we are honest about that. Our mess doesn’t stand in the way of connecting with God. Hiding our mess means we hide from God.