"pretense" - insincere; a false 'show' or act
Some years ago, after swearing off attending local 'ministerial fellowship' meetings where I would just come home with a critical attitude (my fault....), I decided to give it one more shot, as I really wanted to be a part of something that made a real difference in our community.
Long story short, after the breakfast, we sat in a big circle, pastors from all over the area, all denominations, and were asked what we were hoping for. When it came to my turn, I poured out my heart, as candidly as I could, stating that "I just wanted a place where we as pastors could stop all the 'posturing' and be real, and really, sincerely, from the heart, pray for each other and our community."
I was "sick of the 'airs'; sick of all the 'yicky religiousity'..."
The room went dead quiet.
Within about 5 seconds, the moderator said, "OK....Brother Lepinay??...is that how to pronounce your name??..thank you for sharing that. Br. _______________?? (the next guy to my left)....what are you wanting?"
(Br. __________________, with deep baritone voice...) "Well,.....I just want to extend the invitation to each of you fine gentlemen to come join us for the revival services we are having this week. We are having so and so and so and so .....then so and so (big name singers known on Christian TV) and so on....etc..etc..."
You get the point...
I was so disappointed. Every ounce of me wanted to just crawl under the chair, then find a convenient way to get out and never come back.
I hate telling that story. But it does form the fabric from where Harvest was started.
"Done" with it. Done with the 'show'.....done with the 'airs'. Done with the religious pomp and cirumstance.
To this day, one of the best compliments I can receive is that "you sure dont look or act like a pastor."
I am not (I hope) trying to lift myself up. I just detest that thing that makes us try to be something and someone we are not, ....."pretense". It makes us unreal, unrelatable.
It makes ministry something so ridiculously elevated that it cant help but to disappoint.
Pretense affects us all. We have to fight it at every stage of life. From young girls trying to look like the latest pop star to the gray haired guy with his red convertible (gosh....I am liking those....for real...!...:)...) and gold chains with his shirt unbuttoned to his navel......pretense is ever-present, seeking to get us into being someone else, something, somebody NOT real.
I saw this 1 minute piece on David Kerr's blog and it came to mind as I was thinking about this whole thing. I want to be me, the BEST me I can be, not an actor acting out a 'role' that I end up losing my real self in...
....Hope this all in some way makes sense to you.....!
Grace,
PB
PB, I think you should be proud of yourself for speaking up and holding true to yourself and Harvest! That's why I love our church! We do have the BEST pastors around! You can hold your head up high. Had you not said anything then we would have banished you to under the table!! Keep rocking the boat!!
Posted by: Lisa Hassett | November 01, 2007 at 08:40 AM
Hey Josh...! I heartily agree. We just went thru this with our youngest who is wanting (likes, prefers) to do some 'interesting' things with her hair as well. :) That is somewhat different, as she is not an adult, but we all do indeed have widely diverse 'preferences'.
And hey.....if youve noticed, the gray,..er ..actually WHITE...is coming thru, my friend. You can only hold it back so long...! :)
Peace,
PB
Posted by: BobbyLepinay | October 31, 2007 at 11:33 AM
"to the gray haired guy with his red convertible (gosh....I am liking those....for real...!...:)...) and gold chains with his shirt unbuttoned to his navel....."
Shouldn't someone line of comfortablity be of their own choosing? Otherwise, someone could make a fuss about you dying your hair. Just a thought.
Posted by: Josh | October 31, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Bobby, man I am right there with you! Hate it with a passion! We are uniquely created by God- don't put me in a box or stereotype me---
Posted by: David Kerr | October 31, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Thank God I'm free of meetings like that!
Posted by: Greg (PG) | October 30, 2007 at 05:37 PM
Hey Bobbie I have to comment on this one. My friend Scott Huntinghouse, said he did not realize that you were a pastor until you dropped a few names then he put it all together. Thats what I love about our leadership they are human, they are not above us or look down on us from some angelic stage. I think all pastors everywhere could take a page from all four of our pastors play books.
Posted by: Cory | October 30, 2007 at 05:13 PM