Actors

I heard about a county zoo that had a reputation for having a great collection of different animals. People would come from miles around to see the wide array of animals at this particular zoo, but one day the gorilla died. Not wanting to disappoint the customers, the zookeeper came up with a plan. He hired an actor to wear a gorilla costume and fill in for the dead animal. The only problem was the actor did not know how to play a gorilla.

During his first shift the actor tried eating a banana, beating his chest, and walking on his knuckles. He unfortunately was a little clumsy; he got too close to the wall of the enclosure and tripped and fell into the lion exhibit. At this point he became terrified, and even with a group of people watching him, he began to yell, “Help! Help!” The only thing that made him stop yelling was the voice coming from the lion behind him saying, “Knock it off. You’re going to get us both fired!”

The men in the gorilla and lion suits were actors who put on a costume and performed a role for an audience. I’m not opposed to acting; in fact, I enjoy a good performance. But the biblical word for actor is hypocrite, and it does not have a good connotation. There was not anything wrong with being a hypocrite back then, but we now associate the word with people who wear a mask and play a part in order to deceive others. Jesus frequently used the word to call out the outwardly religious people who put on a show in order that they might receive the applause of people; they made sure everything on the outside looked right, but inwardly their hearts were far from God.

Jesus gave them a stinging rebuke when He said, “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are filled with dead people’s bones and all uncleanness (Matthew 23:27).” At a funeral we might remark about how nice a casket may look, but we all know what the purpose of the coffin is. Jesus said these hypocrites were bragging about being polished on the outside, while the inside was only housing corruption.

Are you an actor? Are you a hypocrite? A good performer may be able to fool the audience, but he can never fool God. You can convince your spouse, your parents, your children, and your pastor that you are the real deal, but God looks on the heart. If you are a hypocrite, you should come clean and allow God to make you into the real thing. Until then, being an actor is about as meaningful as pretending to be a gorilla.