Whitewashed Tomb

Lord, let me be more than a whitewashed tomb. Let me be living and breathing. Let me shine from within not just pretty on the outside concealing death.

The term "whitewashed tomb" (and the scripture reference for it) has been on my mind lately. I have been thinking there seems to be a trend in our current body of believers of those who claim, at times loudly, their faith in God but do little to further it in their personal time. But the more I sat on this term the more I realized it isn't a new trend but a continuing epidemic.

In Matthew 23 (v.1-v.36) you find this large chunk of verses of Jesus serving the truth to religious hypocrites. It's really a good read and quite exhilarating when you really stop to think about it. Here is Jesus speaking to a crowd referencing the religious leaders (Pharisees) of the time. Jesus isn't there to praise them or honor them but to be honest with them; to tell them that He sees what so many don't see in themselves, because Jesus sees the heart. Please take a moment in the very near future, if not now, and read Matthew 23:1-36. For time's sake I'm going to share v.27-28 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." What?! That is bold, but Jesus is bold. Jesus is bold and outspoken for the sake of the Gospel.

I'm sure human nature has you wondering who, if anyone, I am thinking of as I write this and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have anyone in mind as the term "whitewashed tomb" rolled around in my brain for the past few weeks. But it doesn't matter who this verse initially made me think of or who it makes you think of. Unfortunately we don't possess the ability to examine the heart. Sure we see the fruit. I have had multiple conversations over the past few weeks discussing the disappointment myself and others feel about the practices of the spiritual leaders in our churches and on our campuses. We assume that if someone is in the role of leadership in a church, whether it is a staff position like pastor, deacon, or even Sunday school teacher, then they are also taking the time to be invested in God's Word and growing in a relationship with Him. This unfortunately isn't always the case. It is frustrating to be someone who notices, but what do you do?

Pray. Pray for their hearts to be changed. Pray for God to guide them. Pray that you will be more focused on the state of your relationship with Him than their relationship with Him. We do not possess the ability nor the right to be their Holy Spirit. It is not our job to out them to the rest of the world. It is not our job to judge their lack of commitment. It is not our job to question their devotion. It is our job to strive to know God more for our own lives. It is our job to pray for them to be drawn back to God. It is even our job to pray that the Holy Spirit will work in others in the church so that they will be aware that man is not perfect and should not be followed like he is.

So here I am. I am someone who struggles with the injustice of "whitewashed tomb" leadership in our body of believers. I am someone who believers that God is in control so I will continue to pursue Him and trust His plans and timing. I am someone who prays for those I don't always agree and, if I'm being honest, for those I don't even like. with or like. I am someone who prays and strives to be more than a whitewashed tomb.