Whether we admit it or not, we’re totally naked before God – our minds and motives are fully exposed. Therefore, we should embrace our spiritual nudity. It is utterly worthless to go through the religious motions, mantras, and missions without humbly and honestly seeking God.
In Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” the problem wasn’t that the emperor was naked… he was. The problem was that he wouldn’t admit it.
“He thought it better to continue the procession under the illusion that anyone who couldn’t see his clothes was either stupid or incompetent. And he stood stiffly on his carriage, while behind him a page held his imaginary mantle.”
So, how many of us are placing weekend religion and tax-exempt ministry before spiritual authenticity? How much humility and honesty is giving way to pomp and pro forma? Sometimes it just takes a child, without orthodoxy or agenda, to declare, “The emperor is naked.”
And thus starts spiritual renewal for many of us…
This is a huge reminder for me today,
Randall Niles
