The song, “Are You Sincere?” was
first recorded by crooner Andy Williams in 1958, and later by the ole hound dog
himself, Elvis Presley, in 1973. It’s a pretty tune, but it makes me sad –
because fewer folks see the merit of sincerity these days.
What would you say it means to
be “sincere”? The word comes from the Latin “sincerus,” meaning “clean, pure.”
It’s defined as “being without hypocrisy or pretense.” The other day I heard an
explanation I like even better: Some claim in the days of antiquity, sincere literally meant “without wax,”
from the Latin “sine” (without) and “cera” (wax).
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| Wax is important for candles, but for relationships? Not so much. |
In those days, when pieces of
pottery were broken or damaged, they often were patched with wax. Because the
wax was transparent, it cleverly concealed a vessel’s flaws. That is, until it
was heated and the wax melted. Then it let loose broken pieces it was holding
together, or the pottery fell apart entirely. So, when people went to buy fine
pottery, or statuary, they insisted it be “sincere” – without wax.
Maybe
that’s also a basis for the term, “waxing eloquently.” Because we hear much
posturing today, people claiming they’re for or against something, yet observing
their lives and actions, there’s a stark contradiction between what they say
and what they do. Seems they’re suffering from a severe sincerity shortage.
For
instance, people who act as if they’re our best friends, yet in times of need are
nowhere to be found. Folks who say, “I’ll call you,” but never do. True,
sincere friends are there for each other, no matter what. As Proverbs 17:17
says, “A friend loves at all times, and a
brother is born for adversity.”
Public
officials speak effusively about the poor and their plight. Then they retreat
to secured, multi-million dollar compounds that isolate them from the “normal”
world. Entertainers denounce what they believe to be climate change or global
warming, while jaunting about in private jets and yachts that produce more harmful
emissions than the average person can produce in a year’s time.
I’ve heard
people bemoan how poorly native Americans have been treated over the centuries.
And they have. But how many “bleeding hearts” are personally addressing needs
on Indian reservations, where suicide rates and alcoholism soar far above the
national average?
Sadly, sometimes
the Church also displays a sincerity deficit. We hear a stirring sermon about
loving our neighbor, or doing to others as we would have them do to us, then proceed
to eat out, where we complain about a server that’s having a bad day. Or
instead of giving a reasonable tip, leave behind a religious tract instead. Those
who serve us might have a spiritual need, but they also have bills to pay.
We praise
God for our many blessings, yet when the preacher speaks about biblical
stewardship, or what the Scriptures teach about money, we inwardly groan, then reach
protectively for our wallets as if he’s a stealthy pickpocket. Or someone comes
to us with a tangible need but we respond, “We’ll pray for you.” Here’s what
the Bible says about that:
“Suppose
a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace;
keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good
is it?” (James 2:15-16).
One of the
best stories I’ve heard about someone who repented of his own insincerity was a
friend, Bob. He had started a Christian ministry to the poor in the inner city
and each day would commute from his upper-middle-class residence in the suburbs.
Then he recognized the credibility gap he had created by claiming to care for
the needy, yet being unwilling to live among them.
Trusting
God was leading them to do so, Bob and his wife moved from comfortable suburbia
to “the ‘hood,” even though the area’s high crime rate made it seem an unsafe place
for raising children. The ministry flourished, and he was embraced by the
community as one of their own, all because they could see his commitment to
them was sincere.
Why is this
important? Because as Romans 12:9-10 states, “Love must be sincere…. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.”
It’s easy
to demonstrate kindness and show “love” to others when it’s convenient or serves
our purposes. But what about when it’s inconvenient, we can’t anticipate a benefit
in return, or it involves personal sacrifice. How sincere is our love or
concern then?
Sincerity
was a hallmark of the early Church. Acts 2:46 describes this: “Every day they continued to
meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate
together with glad and sincere hearts.” This is one reason the ranks of Christ followers multiplied
exponentially in a very short time – long before much of the Bible as we know
it had been compiled. Their sincerity manifested the reality of Jesus to others,
attracting many to Him.
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