Living the Transparent Life
The word "transparent" in the Webster’s dictionairy means to allow light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.
Years ago my first experience with this word in the Christian faith came as I heard a powerful man of God speak about it from the pulpit. In fact he often spoke about transparency and it intrigued me. Unfortunately it did not really penetrate my character as I did not really relate that well to the topic, or to this individual. You see, he was a rather perfect looking fellow. It seemed easy for him to live a transparent lifestyle. He was a pastor of a large, very nice church. His wife was pretty and organized, and his children were obedient and sweet.
As I have grown in my own walk with the Lord however, I have found that Jesus also lived a transparent life, and if we as Christians want to influence unbelievers to turn to Him, then we need to also learn how to develop this into our own character.
Jesus was transparent in everything that He did. His goal was that we would see the Father right through Him. He lived His life transparently. He was out on the hillside when He preached, he spent time with His disciples day in and day out. They saw Him in the morning when He first got up, and they saw Him as He broke bread with them at meal times. He was there in the evening around the campfire, and He took them with Him when He went into the homes to minister to the people. Occassionally He would retreat to a quiet place by Himself for prayer, but once He was refreshed He would return again to the midst of the public life. Everything that He did was easily documented and confirmed, because non of it was done in secret.
- Matthew 5:14-16
He encourages us as well not to hide our light, but to let it shine before all men. Let them see our good works so as to glorify our Father in heaven. Let them see through us to the Father who stands behind us.
- Luke 12:1-3
He calls us not to live a life of hypocrisy; trying to cover up our sin and our problems, acting as though we do not have any, but to deal with our baggage, quickly and openly. Giving the devil no opportunity to come against us, or to use secret sin as a foothold in our life, a foundation to build more iniquity upon.
If we try to hide our problems satan will use them against us. But if we confess our sins to one another and pray over them, then the devil is powerless to use it against us as gossip and misunderstandings. Confessed sin looses it hold in our lives and it looses its power over us.
Also we can take this Scripture and use it even more for God’s glory as we take the Gospel out of the secret quiet places and proclaim it from the rooftops. When satan comes against us with gossip and lies and strife, how much more is it an opportunity for us to proclaim the Gospel from the rooftops! Make him sorry for bothering you! Proclaim Jesus even more when you are under persecution! If the devil sees that everytime he raises his ugly head against you - you go out and get another one of his saved, he will soon back off! Glory to God!
Now let us ask some hard questions concerning transparency.
1. Am I personally transparent before God?
Luke 18:9-14 Who am I in this scenario? Am I thanking God that I do not dress as tastelessly as sister-so-and-so, and did you see what a mess her house is? Am I judgemental of my brother’s language, or choice of friends? Am I critical of the pastor’s children? Or am I standing before the alter weeping, not able to raise my head, because I am yet a sinner! I am not worthy to be used of God as I am, and yet He has used me, even miraculously? Can you remember the depths from which He has brought you?
2. Do I live transparent before men?
Can a friend or assossiate call me to come over for a cup of tea on short notice? Or do I have to have everything perfect before I will allow a guest to drop by? Are your boundaries healthy ones, or are they hindering your ability to minister to the lost, and the lowly? Do you know what I mean church? Am I making sense here? Some people use boundaries like a weapon. Boundaries are good for people who would try to continually take advantage of you, sometimes you have to give them some limitations so they do not wear you out. But don’t let an old hurt in an old relationship hinder you from trusting new people to come in. You can not love people from a distance. You must get real with them. Live in front of them, alongside of them. Welcome them into your midst and hang with them, like Jesus did.
3. Is there a risk to living transparently? Is there a cost?
John 9:1-16
Here we have the story of Jesus doing a miracle. A man’s sight was restored! Yet were they happy? The man was very happy, but the religious folk were not! They were offended. Jesus dared to do a miracle, right out in the open, right on the Sabbath. In front of everyone on the holiest of days, when the crowds were out. He was the light of the world, and He was not afraid to shine before men. If they persecuted Jesus for doing a miracle, how much more will they persecute you and I for living out our Christian life in front of them. We are a miracle of transformed lives! We dare to live that out and be a light in the very presence of darkness, sin and despair in our land! Yes we will be persecuted! Expect it! Stop receiving the condemnation! Big deal! Let us not take offense. So what if the religious condemnation groups want to critisize us, or the unbelievers mock us. They did it to our Savior as well! It was for those that He died! If He can lay down His life for them, how much more can we live as a light in this dark place!
4. Are there benefits to transparency?
Yes, absolutely. It is our very testimony, is it not? As we live our lives in front of those who do not know Jesus, going through the same trials and temptations as they do, but not bowing to the pressure of the status quo, not bending under financial woes, and having peace even in the midst of the storm, this is the time of our greatest triumphs. These are our opportunities to share Jesus in the midst of the hurting. In the middle of the pain, we have the answer that all the world seeks for. We overcome our enemy by the blood of the Lamb (that is the Gospel story) and by the word of our testimony (that is our own story of what He has done in our life and how He has transformed us!)
If we do not live transparently we keep our victories from a dying and hurting world that needs to hear it. They will live miserably and end up in hell if we do not!
5. Does my behavior encourage transparency, or does it cause division in the body of Christ?
This is a hard question, but one that needs to be asked. When a person confides in you, do you listen carefully and then take the time to pray with them. Do you betray their confidence by repeating what you heard there? Do you show them that you love them in spite of their failure by giving them a good brotherly/sisterly hug (on the side of course). Do you take other peoples problems to the cross, or do you take offense with what they say? Do people bring their issues to you for your counsel time and time again, or do they come once and never again? Are you a friend, and a mentor? Are you being mentored by someone else? Are you accountable to a Christian brother or sister of your own gender? I pray that you are? I pray that I am as well.
Jesus lived His life in such a way that we can see the Father as we look through Him. I pray today that we will see Jesus as we look at each other. Let the unbelievers see Jesus as they look at you, and as they look at me.
If you are new hear today I pray that you can see Jesus hear in our midst with us. That you can hear His voice as He is calling out to you. You are not here by accident. It was not a coincidence that you were invited to join us here today. God had a plan that you would be here today. He arranged everything so that you would hear just this message today. Maybe you thought that all Christians were hypocrites until today. Maybe you thought we were all judgemental. But I pray that today you would see Jesus through us, and in us, and in this room you would feel His presence here in this room. I know that you do. I know that you can feel Him reaching out to you. Jesus says, "behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with Him." Do you hear His voice today? Are you ready to let Him come in? Have you had enough of trying to do it all on your own now? Would you like to try it His way? You have tried it enough of your own way to know that you are not really happy with the results anyway. What do you have going on that is so good, that God could not make it better? What do you really have to loose by asking Jesus to be your Savior today? What do you really want to hang onto that is giving you so much pleasure? Jesus is the answer that you are looking for. Let’s ask Him to come into our lives right now, and lets surrender all that hurt and brokeness to Him. He will forgive you for trying to do it all your way, and He will forgive you of anything else that you have done. He will if you ask. Are you ready? Let’s pray together right now.
(Lead in the sinners prayer)
