Pretense

The Temporary Joys of Pretending.

produced by static force llc sometimes things don't change.

Transcript

TITLE: Pretense

SUBTITLE: The Temporary Joys of Pretending.

MARKETING: “Sincere” is a word derived from Roman advertising for stone products.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2076577/episodes/16890470

#GospelAccordingToTheRock

Pretense

by Eric Engelmann

All content © 2025 Static Force, LLC

We're talking about pretense and hypocrisy. Given the subject matter of this episode, I'm going

PRAY FIRST

Most High in Jesus' Name, 

Let me not take ownership of things that aren't mine.

Let me not give myself over to the power of the law to pretend to do it;

Thank you, Jesus, I can take steps toward You.

I can let You be my perfection.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

I want to give you a sentence and then I'm going to insert some words into it.

Take this sentence -- I'm going to hug my brother Alex.

That could be an honest show of affection.

Now consider this sentence: I'm going to *pretend to* hug my brother Alex.

It means there's another motivation behind the action. The love is not so sincere.

The word "sincere" comes from a Latin clause meaning "without wax". It was used to advertise *stone* statues in the Roman empire.

It's interesting that a description of a *stone* can apply to a description of love.

Just as the need for wax repairs destroyed the value of stone products in the Roman empire, so pretense destroys the value of love now.

Pretense is contagious, but adding more pretense doesn't cure someone else's pretense. Jesus has other instructions.

So we'll head toward a Scripture passage now. 

WHEN ARE WE?

I'll say about 30 AD. This is shortly before Jesus is crucified.

WHERE ARE WE?

Jerusalem. Not far from where Jesus was born. Jerusalem is where Jesus will die and where He will rise.

The SCRIPTURE PASSAGE is parts of 

Matt 23 starting with Verse 5 where Jesus points out these people are addicted to attention:

5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 

Jesus' solution is to call attention to the source, and not yourself.

Verse 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 

9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 

10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 

11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 

12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

NOTE: A servant is satisfied to serve.

Verse 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the *gold* of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 

Jesus has different values than these scribes and Pharisees. 

His solution is to recognize the power of sanctification over the value of what catches men's attention.

Verse 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

THAT'S THE END OF THE PASSAGE.

SUMMARY OF THE INSIGHTS WE LOOKED AT:

Call attention to the true source of spiritual power, and not yourself.

A servant is satisfied to serve.

And value the power of sanctification over the value of what catches men's attention.

IN CONCLUSION:

There's a line that came out of Europe around the time the Berlin Wall fell:

"We pretended to work and they pretended to pay us."

May the results we get from our labors turn out to be rewards for labors of love in God's sight, and not pretense.

All content © 2025 Static Force, LLC