You may love Hollywood actors, but you really don’t know them. Recently there’s been much reaction to Will Smith going on stage at the Academy Awards show and hitting Chris Rock. Was that real or were they acting? I don’t know, but I do know that Hollywood is all about ratings and of all things they are good at, it’s acting, and pretending to be someone they are not. The best actors, however, never attended acting school, it just came natural and it started at an early age.
If the nominees for best actor came from characters in the Bible, the award would have to go to…..(drum roll please)…..Judas. Think about it, Judas had everyone fooled that he belonged and was part of the true followers of Christ. Judas knew when to look shocked and surprised, and he probably was at times. He knew when to have that deep look of interest on his face, all the while thinking about the money bag. Judas knew the language and gestures but it was all fake.
There are people like Judas today who are spiritual actors and they play their role well. They have memorized some scripture verses and regularly attend church and sing with the music, but they are only acting. What that means is that there is a spiritual disconnect, just like it was with Judas. Here’s what Jesus said about spiritual actors,
Matthew 15:7-9 “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
Jesus called spiritual actors “hypocrites.” It means to impersonate, pretend, and to play a part. Judas was playing his part and no one ever knew the difference except for Jesus. Jesus was well aware of Judas’ acting, and Jesus also knows when we are pretending. Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to quit pretending and start living for God in truth and with his heart, but he never did so and it cost him eternally. What a tragedy to be right there with the Savior of the world, but never give your heart to Him completely.
The world is full of naturally actors and the church is full of spiritual actors who play the role and have everyone fooled. All that we can do about that is make certain we are not acting.
