Wednesday, March 30, 2011

EMPEROR


There is an old fable about an emperor who was more concerned about his appearance than about governing his people. One day, two swindlers convinced him they could weave the most beautiful clothing ever made and fashion them in such a way that they would be invisible to anyone not fit for his post or anyone who was hopelessly stupid.

What a temptation for the emperor. Not only could he satisfy his own vanity with the new, beautiful clothing - he could be a better ruler at the same time, by easily identifying those who were unfit.

So he gave the swindlers money along with the finest silk and golden thread. But they only pretended to make the clothes and pocketed both the money and the materials.

During the process, the emperor sent his most honest aides to check in on the progress of the clothing. The swindlers pretended to weave and sew, but the aides couldn't see the clothes because there weren't any. Thinking they would be unfit or stupid, they lavished praise on the non-existent garments. Eventually, the emperor went himself to see the clothes. His aides had been so enthusiastic about them that he was sure of his own incompetence when he couldn't see them. So he joined in on the pretense, as did everyone, who thought they were the only ones who couldn't see the clothes. The emperor's aides even suggested a big parade so his subjects could see his new garments. Even though the emperor couldn't see them or feel them, he pretended to put them on his very bare body and prance off to a parade in his own honor - completely naked.

Never had there been anything so wonderful like it in the history of his little kingdom. Everyone praised the beauty of the clothes - until a small child said: 'But he hasn't got anything on!' The new-found discovery quickly spread thru the crowd as people realized they weren't the only ones not seeing the clothes. But when the emperor overheard their shouts and realized his own nakedness, he could only say: 'I must go thru with it now, procession and all.'

We usually think the point of this story is vanity, but not really. It is vested interest. It may have begun with the emperor's pride, but that in and of itself could never have convinced him to walk down the streets of his city naked -- well, unless he was really something.

Even so, you say - this doesn't happen in real life. OK. Sure.

But anyone who has ever sat in a meeting where personal interests rule the course of the day know it does happen. Some of the weirdest reasons can be used to defend the silliest project or idea as long as it might benefit someone. The swindlers in this story made sure everyone in town would be hurt if they didn't believe the lie. And we all know how easy it is to go along with the crowd.

The emperors clothes-that-weren't-there were more successful than anything else he possibly could have worn because people's tastes vary far too widely. Since nothing at all was there, people saw whatever they chose to see - their personal preferences - their own interests.

So it is sometimes with church today. People are making Christianity whatever they want it to be, whatever best fits their interests, whatever is in their own best interest. If there is widespread satisfaction in the church, that may only testify to its lack of substance.

The first person to be honest about the emperor's 'lack' was not all that courageous; he just didn't have a personal stake in the deception. It doesn't take great wisdom to unmask deceit - only a desire to look at things as they really are, not the way we want to see them because it best benefits us.

Hopefully we will not become fooled by that because the world sees thru our nakedness. They will only continue pointing and laughing at us from a distance and all the while, blame God for what we are.

And we can't have that.

And be blessed.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, sometimes it seems easier to follow the crowd, instead of being that lone, awkward voice. Even though I haven't always felt comforted by your responses, I am terribly proud of you for having the fortitude to stay the course. You say the easy things, and when necessary, the tough things.

That is another reason I have so much respect for you. You are not a "yes-man"...and Thank God for that! :)

PK's BLOG said...

LOL. Yes, well. Sorry about that. I DO think comfort in large doses is highly overrated. But it doesn't mean I don't love at the same time. :)