It has gotten to the point that might cause us to wonder if anyone, anywhere can be trusted to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about anything. Are we a world where “smoke and mirrors” are perceived as being necessary to success?
Forget athletes and their steroid scandals. Forget politicians, whom we have come to expect to lie, misdirect and hedge. Forget accused criminals who might lie to get out of trouble. In the same way that you might find fashionistas saying “grey is the new black,” I wonder if it has come to the point where the reality is that “perception is the new truth.” In other words, what we want the world to believe about us is as good as the truth.
In an August 11 article in Information Week, Thomas Claburn reported that China provided an altered video of the fireworks at the Olympic opening ceremony. Apparently, event organizers feared they would not be able to capture the pyrotechnics live on camera. In an August 12 Associated Press article, Cara Anna reported that a member of China’s Politburo asked for a last minute change to the Olympic opening ceremony that resulted in a “cute” girl lip-synching the “Ode to the Motherland” because the actual 7-year-old girl who sang it had crooked teeth.
Call me crazy, but I think China’s national reputation could have handled the “ill effects” of less-than-stellar footage of fireworks and a 7-year-old singer with crooked teeth. Considering their horrible record on human rights, China might actually have come out looking more genuine and less plastic if they had allowed these minor imperfections.
China may be an easy target to call out on this issue, but don’t think they are unique to the human race. I believe that each of us has to fight the tendency to white-wash our lives. After all, it isn’t easy to admit our flaws. But when we fail to be as open to criticism as we are to praise, we do two negative things.
First, we inhibit our own ability to change. I don’t like criticism any more than the next person; but you and I have to be open to seeing our flaws if we want to change. We have to be open to having our flaws pointed out by God’s word in our personal Bible study, from the pulpit, and one-on-one by friends and foes alike. It may be tough to swallow; but, if you are wrong you are wrong, even if the person pointing it out to you is doing it from a wrong motive. We have to be willing to accept accurate criticism, even if it comes out of the mouth of a proverbial donkey. We have to be willing to look at the validity of the criticism itself, regardless of the source.
Second, we inhibit our ability to help others see their own faults and make changes. When we go to others with faults and problems (even those that are not sins), we should be going out of love and genuine concern. We don’t want to be seen as the donkey used by God to call out another’s mistakes. However, if you cannot take criticism brought to you, others might have trouble accepting even the gentlest guidance from you.
The final step, after accepting your faults, is occasionally that we have to admit them publically. Occasionally, we will have to openly say, “I messed up here. I was wrong and here is what I’m going to do about it.”
To be sure, we do not need all our sins and faults made public. I’m not advising we air dirty laundry as standard operating procedure. I am suggesting that there will be times these things need to be acknowledged and dealt with in a public forum. I am suggesting that being human, making mistakes and sinning is as natural to human beings as breathing. I’m saying that your good reputation can withstand the accurate criticism of others. I’m suggesting that your reputation can actually be improved by being willing to admit your mistakes and flaws. And I’m advising that the place to start is by being able to accept criticism and learn from it no matter what the source.
For Christians, reality is the only truth. We Christians don’t need smoke and mirrors to clean up our lives for the sake of standing in the community or ego or reputation. We need to be genuine – crooked teeth and all. For Christians, it is the only way to live.
With love,
Nancy
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