Some of my favourite fairy tales as a lad were ones written by Hans Christian Andersen: "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Emperor's New Clothes." I especially enjoyed the latter because of the incredible ridiculousness of the concept but how apt a depiction it was of the human heart. The pride and vanity of the Emperor was targeted by deceptive and greedy weavers who promised to make him the most lovely apparel. They sat before looms without yarn or linen, moving their hands without a thread to be seen. The weavers claimed the fine fabric they wove was invisible to anyone who was unfit for their office or hopelessly stupid, and because the Emperor was obviously neither he agreed it was the finest he had ever seen. The whole charade reached a climax when the "clothed" Emperor made a grand appearance before the townspeople who murmured with approval. Only a child had the sense to say what all the people knew when the foolish king paraded by them nude: "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" Sometimes there is wisdom in a simple observation of a child which adults blinded by greed or ambition cannot see.
One of the common threads throughout the tale is how even good men cover for themselves and others. At one point the Emperor couldn't see the clothes on the loom, so he sent a trustworthy old minister to report of the progress. The elderly man was shocked when he did not see any fabrics or patterns, but did not want to admit he could not see them so he played along with the sham and provided a detailed report to the Emperor. A trusted official was sent as well and he too was alarmed when he could not see the clothes! He could not admit before the Emperor there were no clothes to be seen, for in doing so he would be admitting he was unfit for his position or hopelessly stupid. So he too played the fool and repeated the words of the swindler weavers, using lies to cover his folly and insecurity. It seems it was not only the Emperor who was laid bare by the weavers, but the minister, trusted officials, and all the townspeople who vainly praised the clothing they could not see. It seems good standing before the Emperor was the clothing people used to cover their own pride.
This compelling fable, which well-describes the conflict in a human heart when we seek to please others or cover for ourselves, is an allegory applied to many circumstances we face in life - even when it comes to matters of faith. The Jewish Pharisees wore clean clothes and searched the scriptures to find eternal life, but Jesus declared it was a cover-up for the rottenness they hid within. They were like a cup which had been carefully buffed and polished to a high shine, but the cup was filthy within. Just because the Emperor thought or hoped he was actually wearing clothes does not believe clothes are a sham, for evidence of genuine clothes are all around. To say the Pharisees used religion as a cover for their own wickedness does not suggest there is not a God who has revealed Himself and can forgive and cleanse people from sin. The fact there are many gods worshipped does not mean there is not one true God who ought to be feared and worshipped. Because people have misplaced trust does not mean there is not an almighty God in whom we ought to trust.
Followers of Jesus Christ are not exempt from the folly of the Emperor or the people of the town. In our Christian circles we can plaster on a smile, act like life is great and all is fine when we are struggling, depressed, and perhaps not even walking with Jesus. Our lives can be full of compromises and contradictions. Our knowledge of scripture and theology can be the invisible clothes with which we try to cover the nakedness of our lives polluted with doubts and sin. We can know about God but it does not mean we are seeking Him; we can say prayerful words with heads bowed but never enter into the LORD's presence because we have never invited Him into us. Scriptures or Christian catch-phrases can be repeated - not because we actually believe or are experiencing these truths - but if we say them enough perhaps they will. How we need the truth of God's Word to pierce our hearts and to admit we are unfit for the task of following Jesus and hopelessly stupid on our own! The ones who humble themselves before God are the ones He will lift up.
Jesus said in Mark 10:15, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." It was the shrill voice of reason which snapped the townsfolk to their senses in Andersen's fable, and may the words of Jesus strike us to our souls. Let us never suppose we can rely upon our strength, resolve, or knowledge any more now than we did when we first believed. We need Jesus to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and we desperately need Jesus to stay the course. The faith of a child in Jesus - not the deceitful ambitions of an adult - is what is needed to be born again, fruitful, and faithful. Instead of being puffed up with pride, let Christians of all ages heed the exhortation of 1 Peter 5:5: "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." This is fine clothing which is always in style and fit for the Kingdom of Heaven..
One of the common threads throughout the tale is how even good men cover for themselves and others. At one point the Emperor couldn't see the clothes on the loom, so he sent a trustworthy old minister to report of the progress. The elderly man was shocked when he did not see any fabrics or patterns, but did not want to admit he could not see them so he played along with the sham and provided a detailed report to the Emperor. A trusted official was sent as well and he too was alarmed when he could not see the clothes! He could not admit before the Emperor there were no clothes to be seen, for in doing so he would be admitting he was unfit for his position or hopelessly stupid. So he too played the fool and repeated the words of the swindler weavers, using lies to cover his folly and insecurity. It seems it was not only the Emperor who was laid bare by the weavers, but the minister, trusted officials, and all the townspeople who vainly praised the clothing they could not see. It seems good standing before the Emperor was the clothing people used to cover their own pride.
This compelling fable, which well-describes the conflict in a human heart when we seek to please others or cover for ourselves, is an allegory applied to many circumstances we face in life - even when it comes to matters of faith. The Jewish Pharisees wore clean clothes and searched the scriptures to find eternal life, but Jesus declared it was a cover-up for the rottenness they hid within. They were like a cup which had been carefully buffed and polished to a high shine, but the cup was filthy within. Just because the Emperor thought or hoped he was actually wearing clothes does not believe clothes are a sham, for evidence of genuine clothes are all around. To say the Pharisees used religion as a cover for their own wickedness does not suggest there is not a God who has revealed Himself and can forgive and cleanse people from sin. The fact there are many gods worshipped does not mean there is not one true God who ought to be feared and worshipped. Because people have misplaced trust does not mean there is not an almighty God in whom we ought to trust.
Followers of Jesus Christ are not exempt from the folly of the Emperor or the people of the town. In our Christian circles we can plaster on a smile, act like life is great and all is fine when we are struggling, depressed, and perhaps not even walking with Jesus. Our lives can be full of compromises and contradictions. Our knowledge of scripture and theology can be the invisible clothes with which we try to cover the nakedness of our lives polluted with doubts and sin. We can know about God but it does not mean we are seeking Him; we can say prayerful words with heads bowed but never enter into the LORD's presence because we have never invited Him into us. Scriptures or Christian catch-phrases can be repeated - not because we actually believe or are experiencing these truths - but if we say them enough perhaps they will. How we need the truth of God's Word to pierce our hearts and to admit we are unfit for the task of following Jesus and hopelessly stupid on our own! The ones who humble themselves before God are the ones He will lift up.
Jesus said in Mark 10:15, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." It was the shrill voice of reason which snapped the townsfolk to their senses in Andersen's fable, and may the words of Jesus strike us to our souls. Let us never suppose we can rely upon our strength, resolve, or knowledge any more now than we did when we first believed. We need Jesus to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and we desperately need Jesus to stay the course. The faith of a child in Jesus - not the deceitful ambitions of an adult - is what is needed to be born again, fruitful, and faithful. Instead of being puffed up with pride, let Christians of all ages heed the exhortation of 1 Peter 5:5: "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." This is fine clothing which is always in style and fit for the Kingdom of Heaven..
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)