Let it show, let it show, let it show.

One thing that I learnt from Evangelism-focused Life Meeting was to "Get Real". The speaker, Regina Wong, from Youth With A Mission (YWAM) recounted her experience as a christian student in NUS, who wasn't in any christian organization. In fact, she was the only christian among her close group of friends in school.

"I really enjoyed my time spent with my non-christian friends because they were very real people. They're just like, 'This is me, with all my weaknesses - take it or leave it.' They were just very real and I appreciated how straightforward they were."
(Okay, not the exact words she said but I believe I got 75% of it right anyway.)

So, Christians = Hypocrites, perhaps?

Christians are susceptible to the accusation of being a "hypocrite" precisely because of this "get real and let it show" dilemma. We are constantly being judged by the world as representatives of our faith, therefore, we have to watch our attitudes and behaviour. Paradoxically, we may fall into the trap of thinking that we need to appear as Saints in order to be a good reflector of Christ, especially when we are not. I don't think the world appreciates that.

Though a christian's life purpose involves being Christ-like, everybody knows that we are definitely not 'Christ's. We can show the world who Christ is by making apparent our relationship with Him, instead of pretending to be Him. What the world needs is not someone who pretends to be perfect (and may shame them because of their sins, which one pretends not to have), but someone who can show them that despite the weaknesses and limitations that are common to Man, there is hope in God through a relationship with Christ.

There shouldn't be a secret weakness that any christian hides from anyone (christian or not christian), especially if its supposed to be "for the good of God's reputation". God doesn't need anyone to maintain His reputation. Being real (read: sincere) is what really matters to people. They don't care how good you are until they see how real you are.

Get real.

When I told S that I am struggling because I know that something good lies ahead of my struggle, I used the analogy of a caterpillar struggling out of its cocoon to become a butterfly.

S said, "Why do you think the caterpillar struggles?"
I replied, "Like I said, it's becoming a butterfly!"
S then offers his insightful opinion.

"I don't think the caterpillar knows it is going to become a butterfly. I believe it is struggling because its uncomfortable."