Are You Prepared to Sustain This Lie?

By Nastassia Newell

Recently in Japan, a company called Rent-a-Family has emerged. This business allows anyone to rent an actor that will pretend to be a father, mother, wife, husband or any essential role that an individual may feel is lacking in their lives. These roles can go on indefinitely as long as one is willing to pay for the services and sustain the lie. The founder of the company, Ishii Yuichi, gave a startling statement in an interview, as he spoke about being hired to act as a father to a girl, a role he has been playing for twelve years. The interviewer posed this question; “How do you think she would feel if she discovered the truth?” Yuichi responded by making this statement; “I think she would be shocked, if the client never reveals the truth I must continue playing the role indefinitely. If the daughter gets married, I have to assume my role as a father in that wedding, and then I have to be the grandfather. So, I always ask every client, “Are you prepared to sustain this lie?” It is the most significant problem our company has.”

            Although this is an extreme example of wanting to feel accepted, the Japanese culture is not the only culture that is experiencing the pressures of society or has adapted “broken cisterns” to fulfill an empty void. Sadly, even within the Christian realm, the “Rent a Family” mindset has been adopted. Jesus Christ lovingly, yet sternly, rebuked the Pharisees in Matthew 15:7-8, saying “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me”. We see Christians performing dutifully in church, but it is too often just a “form of godliness”. There is nothing wrong with regularly attending church events, taking church positions; we just need to be wary about losing our focus. What truly pleases Christ has been inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by the Psalmist David in Psalms 51:16-17, “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it; thou delightest not in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” A statement from Ellen White further expounds on the text, “Man must be emptied of self before he can be, in the fullest sense, a believer in Jesus. When self is renounced, then the Lord can make man a new creature.” DA 280

“ We see Christians performing dutifully in church, but it is too often just a ‘form of godliness’. ”

God is not looking for a form of godliness He truly wants to be close with us. In Isaiah 1:18, God says and promises us “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” God wants us to be honest with Him and tell Him of our dreadful sins, so that he in turn can truly make us into his image. The example is given in Luke 18:10-13, “Two men went up to into the temple to pray one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself… And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner”. This is the example Christ has left for us, humility not a façade, not attempts to be someone that we are not. He wants us to truly tell Him who we are so Christ can work within us a change. May God bless you friends as you draw nearer to Christ.