Be Anoymous

In this world many are apt to be enthralled by the rich and famous. Those in power get headlines in every post and publishing of an article. And yet those that are in spotlight are undeserving. The cesars and actors of our times are miserable people. They live a life of reckless abandon. It is hard to keep up with which actor has cheated and divorced their famous significant other at $250,000,000 USD (imagine if every Hollywood divorce settlement was put towards the debt and deficit of the USA). While the ruse of glamor and glory of being rich and famous floods our televisions, social media, the internet, and more; we should remember what misery those who flaunt their vanity and vainglory live in. Matthew McConehay, known for his roles in "Failture to Launch," "How to Lose A Guy in 30 Days," and more said this, "I went overnight from being a nobody, to a somebody. I once was like all ordinary people, but then suddenly my face was on buses and all over the place, and people who did not know me were making comments and criticisms; I had lost my ignomity and it broke me, I went to nature, and there I vomited." A strange statement by one of Hollywood's best.

Jesus Christ our Lord and God forknew this, and said, "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." (Matthew 20:26). Christ modeled this humility by getting on His knees, God got on His knees! and washed the Disciple's feet (John 13:1-17). Such a scene seems strange for the Maker of All Things (John 1:3). And yet there is a message in Christ's actions and words, that of anonymity. We are taught by the ads on television, movies, video games, and even books to seek fame, glory, renown, recognition, and be known. And yet Christ tells us to seek the opposite, "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do--blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:1-4). It is an oxymoron that even celebrites seek fame through charity. "who can be the most charitable?" Many 'stars' as they are so called have their own charities, Angelina Jolie had one, the Clintons have The Clinton Foundation, and more. And yet, the success of their giving (if it is so, many have been found to be corrupt) in itself condemns it before Christ, for it was not in secret.

Lest anyone believe Jesus was only speaking about giving, here is His words on fasting, a practice of abstaining from food to pray, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is in unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18). Again the Alpha and Omega is showing us that anonymity should be sought so that we may receive a reward from the Father for not parading and drawing public attention to our sacrifice. For the true reason for our fasting or giving should come from a genuine heart and love of the Lord and others; not to be noticed by the world. Even when Emmanuel came the first time, He came in anonymity, being born in a stable in Bethlehem, rather than in palace in Jerusalem (Luke 1, Luke 2, Matthew 1, Matthew 2). Jesus Christ even tells us to pray in private, rather then before people (like Popes, and other religious leaders do), "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6). Seeking and serving the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom should not be a show in which people can see your good works. And yet churches often make spectecales, and their leaders are touted as paragons of holiness, righteousness, and charity for their good works that are readily seen by the camera and crowds.

It is counter to the sinful disposition within us and the defeault programming or education we have received from the world to hide our triumphs, good works, charity, and more. There is a strong force inside that wants to shout from mountain tops, "look what I did!" It has grown more easy in this age of tech with achivements and trophies for every little feat in video games and more. Everyone wants to make a mark, break a record, go down in history, and leave legacy. The reality is as Christians our mark, record, history, and legacy should be blended into Christ. We are not meant to be the object of focus, worship, or glory; that belongs to God; who Himself humbled Himself and modeled this for us, "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phillipians 2:8). How many of us are willing to follow Him on that lonely road that has not cheers, but criticisms and thinned crowds? How many of us want to be slaves and servants? God Himself did it, the Maker of All Things (John 1:3) was able, why are not His people? Jesus Christ told us we were to follow His example, "But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28).

In an astounding turn of events two thousand and sixteen years ago, Jesus Christ, God in body came to His people and they not only did not recognize Him, they did not receive Him, "He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:10-12). God was not recognized or received, and they crucified Him outside the glory of the city, "So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come." (Hebrews `3:12-14). Christ was treated like criminal: spat on, mocked, ridiculed, beaten, flogged, pierced, crucified, and suffocated. Why should we expect to have a different life than our Master and Savior? Did he not say, "Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also," (John 15:20), and "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." (Matthew 5:11).

Be anonymous. Many today want the glory of Second Coming and to Reign, but they refuse to suffer as Christ did and learn to do good in secret and not seek fame. Christ has given us a model of a life that is opposite of education of the world, one of anonymity rather than prestige, of service than being served. It is time for us to learn these important lessons while we are here on Earth. For Christ is Coming Again, this time not in anonymity, but in full glory and all shall see Him, "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7). We are warned to not be caught like rebellious, lazy, and cruel servants when He returns (Matthew 24:49-51, Matthew 25:1-46) but instead to have it said unto us, "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:23).