Did Beyoncé lip-sync her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the presidential inauguration? That question seems to have become a hot topic last week when the allegation first came out. Whether or not she did, there are those who respond: What does it matter? Even if pre-recorded, it was still her that was singing the song.
But this wasn’t the case with another artist. Many years ago, a new music duo came out with their debut album. The album enjoyed considerable success, enough for the artists to receive the Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and to win the award. They even performed at the award ceremonies.
But nine months later the artists were exposed as imposters. It was discovered that the performers publicly known as Milli Vanilli were not the actual singers who recorded the album. And they lip-synced their performance at the Grammys. They were simply going through the motions but were not the real artists.
Scripture speaks of a similar kind of behavior. Perhaps we may call it a “lip-synced faith” that goes through the motions without a genuine surrender of heart and mind to Christ. This behavior is unacceptable to the Lord. Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7.21–23 ESV). The apostle Paul describes such imposters as “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3.5 NIV).
A religion that simply goes through the motions of religiosity—Bible reading, prayer, church involvement, religious service—does not constitute authentic Christianity. What matters is the work of God in a person that brings about a transformation into Christlikeness. The action and behavior of such a transformed person are a direct result of such divine work and are therefore in keeping with the purpose and ways of God. It is not a mere “form of godliness” but the real manifestation of the divine power.
As singer Matthew West would declare, “I don’t wanna go through the motions; I don’t wanna go one more day, without Your all consuming passion inside of me.”
Don’t lip-sync; let your song of faith be real.
—Keith Y. Jainga