Today we’re going to fight a disease together, one that often goes undetected and has eternal side-effects. The disease is that of exhibitionism—the desire to be seen and validated for doing or saying something. This is a sickness that controls lives, binds consciences, distorts motives, and spreads quickly.
While exhibitionism is always ugly, it may be at its worst when it gets into the church. You see, Christians are not immune. We’re all vulnerable to the desire of wanting to be seen doing churchy things by churchy people, whether to impress or avoid disappointing. And one of the terrible symptoms of this illness when it gets into the church is that the desire to be seen godly becomes more important than actually being godly; that more time is spent crafting the illusion of righteousness rather than pursuing real righteousness; that we elevate what those around us think over and above what God in heaven thinks of us.
This morning we want fight exhibitionism and, to do that we’re going to hear from Jesus, the Good Doctor himself, and find help in both diagnosis and treatment.
Key Scripture: Matthew 6:1–18
Speaker: Josiah
