W. Robert Smith
SELF - DECEPTION
I N t h e l it t l e book of James we find some marvelous insights given to us by the Holy Spirit. Few passages are so significant regarding the mat ter of Christian maturity. The first chapter deals with self-deception no less than three times. Unfortunately, the major compass of many people’s lives is to maintain their own self-image. As they think of themselves highly they desire every one else to do the same. In many cases of genuine neuroticism a person wears a mask because he has sinned. Having refused to live up to the patterns God has ordained, he puts on a false face instead of admitting he is wrong and doing something about it. He may hide and not desire to go out, finally wind ing up in an institution all because he wasn’t willing to be honest with him self. A young woman came to talk to me about her problem. She was a Chris tian girl, and taught in the Sunday school. She had real musical ability. Now, however, she doesn’t darken the door of a church. She says she has to stay away from crowds. She gets upset and loses her food. The medical doctors can find nothing wrong. I told her, “I ’m not a professional psychia trist but if I think you need to see one I’ll encourage you to do so.” We chat ted together and I explained, “We will only have an hour together and you will probably not be coming back again. There is not the time to delve too deeply. But, let me ask you a ques tion. You will need to answer it hon estly. If I embarrass you, forgive me and don’t be angry. It is th is: are you living in some real sin which you have not confessed? It may now be grieving your own heart and you won’t get it straightened with the Lord.” Aston ished she replied, “How do you know these things?” I responded, “I don’t know them, particularly, but I know them in general.” She confessed the
problem. She had been going with a young man who did not know the Lord. She felt, as the Scripture tells us, that she shouldn’t go with him and it be came a very sensitive point. She low ered her head and continued, “What’s more, we’re going out under the cover of darkness and going into the lowest levels of sin.” I said, “When you go into the church, do you think every body is staring at you?” She shook her head in the affirmative. “You’re so upset with yourself that when you think of the shabby hypocritical life you are living, you want to go out and vomit?” Again she agreed. I could tell her, “You don’t need a psychia trist or a psychologist, you need to confess your sins before the Lord. Cease your pattern of living in un chastity and ask God’s forgiveness. Begin to walk within the patterns of purity. A year and a half later I saw her. She was radiant as she asked, “Do you remember me?” Smiling, I replied, “While I don’t remember your name, I recall the experiences we talked about. You used to be afraid faking a briaf period for fellowship are throe members of the Talbot Theological Seminary stu dent body. With his back to the camera is Robert Bengston, paster of a church in nearby Buena Park. In the center is Gene Luber of Whittier and on the right John Lubeck of Montebello. The Seminary held its annual "Open House" on November 11.
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