Probably all of us who drive have been lost. In November of 2007, when we were missionaries in Romania, we and several Romanians attended the missionary retreat in Rothenberg, Germany. We drove two church vans through Hungary, Austria, and into Germany – on the Autobahn. It was a long drive but enjoyable. On the return home, we had to pass through Budapest, Hungary. We missed a turn somewhere. We stopped in Budapest and asked for directions. Hungarian is not similar to Romanian.
We drove a while but did not find our way out of the city. We stopped and asked directions again. Two of our Christians could speak some Hungarian. We drove again – without success. Three hours later, stopping again to ask for directions, a taxi driver told us to follow him and he would lead us out toward the airport and freedom!
You can head down any number of paths full of self-confidence and security and sincerity. But if it is not the right path, it will not lead you in the right direction.
SINCERITY IS NECESSARY
“Sincerity” means “free from falsehood, pretense or deceit” (Webster’s Handy College Dictionary). Disciples of Christ must indeed be free from falsehood, pretense and deceit. Joshua told his people: “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness” (24:14; ESV). Joshua did not want his people to be hypocritical in their service. God can see through a mask faster than anyone.
We are to celebrate Christianity “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8). Paul contrasts those who are sincere with those who “peddle God’s word” (2 Corinthians 2:17). Our faith in Christ is to be “sincere and pure” (2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 1:5). There is to be no falsehood, pretense or deceit in our profession of Christianity.
SINCERITY ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT
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If we look back at the previous verses enjoining sincerity on us, we see what else must accompany it. Joshua said to serve in “sincerity and faithfulness.” Faithfulness in Christians means that we are full of faith; we are trustworthy. God can expect us to try to live up to our side of the covenant. The unleavened bread is of “sincerity and truth.” This may very well be truthfulness.
But all truth flows from God and if we are truthful, it is because we are full of God’s truth. Our faith will be “sincere and pure” (2 Corinthians 11:3) if God’s truth saturates our hearts and minds. Satan’s deceits cannot find a home.
In contrast with Peter and Barnabas in their lapse of Christianity (Galatians 2:11-14), we need to be sincere and walk “in step with the truth of the Gospel.” Our worship must be sincere and “in step with the truth of the Gospel.” Our moral lives must be sincere and “in step with the truth of the Gospel.” Our church activities must be sincere and “in step with the truth of the Gospel.” Our vocation and work ethic must be sincere and “in step with the truth of the Gospel.”
Sincerity is necessary but alone, it is not sufficient.
–Paul Holland
