Ch. 10 – A Life of Freedom (The Practice of Secrecy)

In 1998 Jim Carey starred in a movie called the Truman Show. If you haven’t seen the show, it’s a life about a man who was born on TV, but he doesn’t know it. His entire world is one big elaborate TV set. All his friends, family, and co-workers are actors and he has no idea. Every moment of his life is broadcast for the world to see. Truman has no idea that he has no privacy, there is nothing he does that is in secret because there are cameras everywhere. The entire world is his audience and he’s oblivious.


Contrast that to our reality TV lives of today. In this world of facebook and selfies, we all produce our own reality show for everyone see. This generation is a generation of TRUMANS, the only difference is that we want all the world to see us. We live in a “Look-it me” world. Think about our facebook posts. Look at me, look at my family, look at my stuff, look at my problems, or look I’m happy.


Now, it may sound like I’m condemning our or your facebook statuses, I’m not. I’m just stating the fact. We live in “look-at me” world! Period J Therefore, we must take this spiritual discipline, the practice of SECRECY, serious. If there ever was a generation who needed this practice as a part of their spiritual lives it’s the one we live in now.


For those of you who haven’t read this chapter, you need to get the book and read this chapter. If you don’t read any other chapter in this book, you need to read this one. This one chapter will greatly increase your spiritual health and strengthen your relationship with God if you implement it into your everyday life. WHY, because to practice this discipline of spiritual secrecy will set you free from the chains of our “look-it me” world. Every time we give in to the desire to impress others we give a little of our freedom away. And if we are not careful, bit by bit, post by post, our freedom is taken away and we can easily become slaves to this “look-it me” world we live in.


So again, for those of you who did not read this chapter, I’m not going to give it away. This blog is not meant to replace the book that Ortberg wrote. My purpose is to add some commentary, start some discussion, and hopefully encourage you towards actually engaging in these spiritual exercises. However, I will give you one small little exert from this chapter that might encourage you to read it…“The practice of secrecy is Jesus’ gift to APPROVAL ADDICTS” (p.168).


So if you struggle with living your life to gain the approval of others, if your happiness is greatly dependent upon your status and what others think of you, and/or if your happiness goes up and down based upon how many likes you got on your facebook post—then you need really need to learn the art of spiritual secrecy or as Otrberg puts it “Righteous Anonymous”.


When you learn this practice, then you’ll be set free from trying to control what others think of you. There will be only ONE person who you will really need approval from and only ONE you will live to please. That Life You’ve Always Wanted is just an audience of ONE away.

Matthew 6:1 (NASB) -  “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

pj