Sincere: A Definition to Live By

It is with great anticipation that I begin this new endeavor, the weblog. I look forward to the opportunity to explore, in writing, my developing spirituality (see “My Heart”). As for this post, I would like to share a few things I have been thinking about lately.

I’m growing increasingly frustrated. I think modern culture, or at least modern American culture, could be best described with the word “fake.” We spend countless hours with our eyes fixed on an electronic screen, whether it is television, video games, the internet, or that snazzy iPhone which puts it all in your pocket—just in case you should feel the need to read through the Wikipedia article on Star Wars while waiting in line at Starbucks. By the way, yes, I recognize the irony of this complaint while I am myself staring at a computer screen. My point is this: in the presence of all these things, it becomes far too easy to lose touch. I can’t count the hours I used to spend playing “The Sims 2” on my PC, or how many episodes of “Law and Order” I have watched over the past few years. It’s a bit depressing.

We have come to define ourselves by entertainment.

Look at a random profile on Facebook (sadly my profile proves the point I am about to make, so feel free to use it as example). What categories do you see under personal information? Which categories contain the longest lists? Do you see what I am getting at?

Well, frankly, I am tired of it.

In Second Corinthians, Paul and Timothy write to the church at Corinth to encourage them and inform them of the reasons he did not return to visit them after a trip to Macedonia. In the process, he ensures them of his devotion to them and to God:

Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.
[2 Corinthians 1:12]

Now, it seems a small thing, but, as I was reading this chapter the other day, the word “sincerity” struck me. The word appears a couple more times in Paul’s letter [2 Corinthians 2:17 and 8:8]. I looked up the definition of the root word here:

sincere, a.
1. Not falsified or perverted in any way: a. Of doctrine, etc.: Genuine, pure. b. True, veracious; correct, exact. c. Morally uncorrupted, uncontaminated.
2. Pure, unmixed; free from any foreign element or ingredient: a. Of immaterial things. b. Of colours or substances. c. spec. Unadulterated; genuine. d. Free from hurt; uninjured. Obs. e. Devoid of something. rare.
3. Containing no element of dissimulation or deception; not feigned or pretended; real, true.
4. Characterized by the absence of all dissimulation or pretence; honest, straightforward: a. Of life, actions, etc. b. Of persons, their character, etc.
[Oxford English Dictionary]

How’s that for a definition? In particular, I find the third and fourth definitions interesting. “Containing no element of dissimulation or deception; not feigned or pretended; real, true”—that is something I aspire to.

Forget the American Dream.

If my lot in life is nothing more than a decent job, a nice house, and a good retirement plan—if the best I can do is coast through life in comfort—then let me die right now. I want to live my life sincerely, from the very center of who I am, in line with whatever purpose God created me for, “in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.”

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
[Philippians 4:8 NIV]

But where do I start? Well, it certainly couldn’t hurt to turn off the television, the computer, the game console, or whatever, and take a walk every now and then, if only to think about what is important, what I sincerely want, and what God wants for me. Not just a breath of fresh air, but a breath from God.

And why not sit down and have a serious conversation with someone. Not about the weather or the how bad the FSU football team has been the last few years. Forget all that for a while and actually talk to someone.

I am not saying that movies, television, and sports are evil. Anyone with a discerning mind can draw important life lessons from a good movie or the hard work that goes into athletic competition. I just think we tend to overdo it.

Let me close this post with a piece of scripture which cannot be repeated enough:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
[Matthew 22:37-40 NIV]

Sincerely…