Honesty is scary. But it’s also critical in building trust and community. So, we will be courageous in being real and transparent about our lives, families, and ministries.

INTRO

This morning, we are exploring our 5th RiverLife value, we are courageously transparent. We are courageously transparent. This one, I think, can be the most challenging because being courageously transparent means we are honest, vulnerable, and real with each other. Generally, our natural tendencies are to be safe, polite, and pleasant. Transparency requires us to take a risk and be open about ourselves.

I am reminded of when RiverLife started getting serious about planting the Brooklyn Park campus about 5 years ago. Some of you have heard this story before, but it is a moment where I had to be transparent. My wife and I had to go through a week-long process where we were assessed to see if we would be a good fit. The individuals who assessed us did a thorough job where it literally felt like we couldn’t hide anything from them. At first, I felt uncomfortable, ashamed, and exposed. But I had to trust that these individuals were looking out for me, so I became open to the process and learned to accept my strengths, insecurities, and growth areas. After the week ended, I felt affirmed and supported like never before and put me in a place to be confident.

It isn’t easy to be transparent, but we believe it’s absolutely critical in building trust and community. Instead of hiding our struggles, we choose to be real with one another by confessing our weaknesses and sharing our burdens so we can experience God’s grace and freedom together.

So often, we feel like we’re supposed to have it all together. We’re supposed to be the perfect person, the perfect spouse, the perfect parent, the perfect employee, the perfect citizen, and yes, even the perfect Christian. We fear that if we don’t appear to have it all together, people are going to see us differently and not accept us, so we put on the best of versions of ourselves so that others will accept us. We’re afraid that if they see the real us, they will reject us.

Ironically, psychological studies have shown the complete opposite. Research has found that being vulnerable creates more opportunities for connection than being perfect. Vulnerability allows us to accept ourselves as we are and share our true selves with others trusting that they will accept us as we are. When we are willing to be vulnerable with others this encourages others to reciprocate, which cultivates connection, understanding, and empathy. When we try to be perfect, we end up create barriers that prevent connection. Individuals who appear perfect have a harder time accepting people as they are. They will also avoid situations where they might be judged or perceive as imperfect causing them to isolate. That is shame and it doesn’t have a place in God’s plan among his people.

We value transparency at RiverLife because it is foundational in building meaningful relationships. Our mission, experiencing God together, highlights a communal aspect of what we want to see here at RiverLife. In order to experience community, we have to be transparent with each other. If we aren’t transparent with each other, our relationships will be shallow and superficial, which causes our spirituality to be stagnant. This morning, we will look at the life of Ananias and Sapphira and see how this is played out. These were two individuals who chose not to be transparent. Instead, their decision to be deceitful resulted in a serious consequence.

The Consequence of Deceit

In Acts 4:32-5:11, Jesus already ascended to heaven and the early church was established. The believers were described as “one in heart and mind”. They demonstrated their unity by sharing everything they had with each other. They sold their possessions and gave to anyone who was in need. Occasionally, some would sell their land or houses and bring the money to the disciples who would distribute it to those in need. One of these individuals was Barnabas who sold his field and brought the money to believers who needed it. We’re also introduced to a couple by the name of Ananias and Sapphira who sold a piece of their property, but unlike Barnabas, they were deceitful. They devised a plan to keep some of the money for themselves but claim that they gave it all to the church. Some speculate that they were inspired by the response of Barnabas’ generosity. They wanted to be recognized and honored like Barnabas, so they did something similar, but instead of having pure motives like Barnabas, they had selfish motives.

There was no issue regarding their decision to keep some of the money, but we’re informed that when they went to present the money, they claimed that they gave all of it to the church. Instead of being transparent, they were deceitful, and Peter immediately recognized it and asked why they lied. He makes this point in Acts 4:4.

4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Ananias and Sapphira had full control over the property, over the sale price, and over their contribution. They could’ve kept some of the income from the sale, but they pretended to give it all when they held some back. The issue was their deceit. They disguised their desire for recognition dishonestly. They masked their selfish desire for status with deceit. They disguised their yearning for honor with lies. Not only was their deceit against the church, but it was against the Holy Spirit. This brought God’s judgment onto them causing both to immediately die. Some Bible scholars suggest this harsh judgment was necessary because if it wasn’t dealt with, it would’ve fractured the church. If deceit that wasn’t immediately dealt with, it would’ve caused other individuals in the church to be deceitful with their own selfish agendas rupturing the selfless nature of the church. Though harsh it is a stark reminder that deceit is not healthy for believers.

God Calls Us to Live Transparent Lives

Instead of living deceitful lives, we’re called to live transparent lives. One way that we’re encouraged to do that is through confession. When we confess, we are transparent with others about our sins and struggles. And when we are transparent with one another, we’re told in James 5:16 this,

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Confession and transparency with others result in healing. While some understand this passage to promise physical healing, I believe it also includes spiritual healing. In its original context, healing conveys the idea “to make whole” or “to restore” and it can be used to describe being free from sins, which leads to salvation. Our willingness to live transparent lives not only impacts our physical wellbeing, but our spiritual wellbeing too.

One main reason why transparency heals us is accountability. When we are transparent about our sins and struggle with other believers, they help us be responsible for our issues. When they see us live out our ungodly behaviors, they point out the sin and encourage us to act against it. Being transparent with other believers means they share the burden with us and bring the issue into light when they see it. Instead of avoiding it, they help us address it. Being transparent and confessing our sins with others brings our issues to light. If we don’t let others know, we secretly struggle with it and it can be destructive. If there’s one thing we must understand about transparency and deceit, it’s this.

Transparency thrives. Deceit devastates. Transparency thrives. Deceit devastates.

If we are transparent with our struggles, others can help us to overcome them. If we are deceitful and hide our struggles, they will devastate us. If we are transparent with our sins, we bring them into the light and experience God’s forgiveness. If we are deceitful with our sins, we live in shame and constantly worry what others think of us. If we are transparent with our sins, we will overcome them, but if we are deceitful, we will always struggle with them. Although we thrive when we are transparent, it isn’t easy because we must be vulnerable. It feels easier to live in deceit because we don’t have to expose ourselves, but it devastates us over time, so we have to make a conscience decision to step into transparency. Here a few ways that we can take a step into living a transparent life.

APPLICATION

1. Pray for the courage to be transparent. Pray regularly asking God to give you courage to be transparent with someone else. Pray for the strength to overcome the easy way out of hiding or being deceitful. The devil doesn’t want us to be transparent so he will use shame and do everything to make us feel uncomfortable by filling out head with lies. Pray for the Holy Spirit to turn off all of that noise and trust that God’s plan of living transparently with other believers is more beneficial for you than living in deceit.

2. You don’t have to impress anyone here. We all have our issues, including me. We all have sins and struggles that we’re ashamed of, but we’re here because we trust that Jesus can fix us. Our focus here at church is on Jesus and how he can help us. If you feel the pressure to put a front so that no one will ever know your struggle, let it go. I want to invite you to choose authenticity over perfection when you’re here. Instead of pretending everything is perfect on a Sunday morning, share the area where you need help or what you’re struggling in. People will be able to relate more with you about your struggles than your perfection.

3. Embrace vulnerability in one of your relationships. Choose one relationship where you can be completely open about a struggle or fear. Start with someone who you trust. It could be a close family member, a close friend, or your spouse. Choose someone who will be on your side. Open up to them about something you are hiding and ask for prayer. Remember, in James 5:16 we’re told this, “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

4. Support others in their journey toward transparency. When someone shares their struggles with you, resist the urge to judge, criticize, or fix. Instead, offer love, prayer, and encouragement. Our response to others who are transparent with us can create healing or harm. Be a safe place, create space for them, check in on how they are doing, and encourage them to continue to trust God.

I want to challenge all of us to embrace transparency. It will feel uncomfortable, but I know the end goal is worth it. Freedom and healing comes from transparency, but shame and fear thrive in deceit.

I am confident that we have a community full of graceful, empathetic, and supportive people who can help us experience God’s wholeness. Let’s make a choice today—not to live behind masks of perfection, but to step into vulnerability with each other. Let’s choose authenticity over the pressure to impress. Let’s not be afraid to share our struggles, knowing that God is ready to meet us with love, and others are ready to help us carry our burdens.

Remember, as we confess to one another and pray for each other, healing happens. God designed us to live transparently, not only to experience His grace and forgiveness, but to help one another grow in freedom and unity. Transparency thrives, and deceit devastates.

Let's pray.