"It is insincerity that curses mankind."

Sincerity is the Antidote

In today’s world, the church, networks, and organizations can be entangled in foolish discussions, be it endless debates over strategies, cultural relevance, or political alignments that mirror the divisive genealogy disputes of biblical times. Just as first-century believers boasted of lineage to claim spiritual superiority, modern leaders chase trends, clout, or doctrinal one-upmanship, often amplified by social media, at the expense of authentic faith. AW Tozer kicked off this curiosity,

It is insincerity that curses mankind. And people with foolish disputes and genealogies simply are insincere.¹

Modern missions can often suffer from too much posturing and not enough sincerity, a virtue that counters such empty arguments with heartfelt devotion to God’s truth. To explore this, seven figures from across history - AW Tozer, the Apostle Paul, Roland Allen, C.S. Lewis, Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, and Steve Smith gather in an imagined conversation in the "Celestial City" as Bunyan called it, sharing timeless insights on sincerity as the antidote to distraction and the heartbeat of genuine mission.

A Timeless Dialogue on Sincerity

The scene is quiet, save for the crackle of a small fire under a starlit sky. AW Tozer, his voice steady and piercing, opens the discussion. “It is insincerity that curses mankind. And people with foolish disputes and genealogies simply are insincere. In my time on earth, I warned that the church leans on fleshly methods to gain influence, be it entertainment, clever programs, or self-promotion. True leadership, like true worship, must be in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Sincerity is a heart fixed on God, seeking only His glory, not distracted by the pride of modern trends or empty talk that echoes the Pharisees’ boasts of lineage.”

The Apostle Paul, grinning slightly, responds. “You’ve been reading my letters, haven’t you, Tozer? Quoting me like that makes me sound almost modern; though I’d wager my parchments weren’t as polished as your books! Still, you’re right. I wrote to Timothy and Titus to avoid ‘foolish and stupid arguments’ and ‘genealogies’ that stir division (2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9). In my day, some used lineage to claim superiority, but sincerity is a faith that works through love, free of pride or pretense (Galatians 5:6). I preached Christ crucified, a message so simple it confounded those who craved complexity (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). Today’s mission debates, like those genealogies, often serve egos, not the gospel. Sincerity demands we speak truth plainly, trusting the Spirit to work.”

The man next to him wears a wry smile. Roland Allen chimes in. “Paul, I confess I titled my book Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? because I couldn’t find a better guide and strategist than you! Your call to trust the Spirit is the heart of sincere mission. In my day, I saw leaders impose Western structures on new churches, arguing over traditions and practices like scribes debating genealogies. Sincerity means letting the Spirit work through local believers, as you did when you appointed relatively new believers as elders in Galatia (Acts 14:23). By trusting the Spirit, we free the gospel from our control, letting it take root authentically, without the pride of our traditions.”

And no stranger to confrontations with established authority, Martin Luther, pounding a fist lightly on the table near the fire, joins in. “Allen, your fight against imposed structures mirrors my battle with indulgences. The church in my time was choked by traditions which were scholastic arguments over merit and works. Arguments that served pride, not God. Like Paul’s genealogies, these traditions built walls, not bridges, and hindered any hope of collaboration. Sincerity is faith stripped bare, clinging to grace alone. When I stood at Worms, I spoke from conviction, not to win a debate. Today’s mission squabbles over doctrine or relevance are no different and they distract from the cross. Sincerity cuts through such clutter, pointing to Christ, not our egos.”

Then, C.S. Lewis, adjusting his glasses, and looked across the fire. His sigh signaled his impending response, but the silence lingered before he spoke. “Luther, your stand against those prideful traditions of indulgences and scholastic wrangling hits the mark. I argued for a faith free of such clutter, a Christianity that avoids dogmatic disputes. When tradition or the pursuit of common language and tools becomes a tool for self-elevation, like the genealogies that you, Paul, condemned, it obscures the gospel’s simplicity. Sincerity is intellectual and spiritual honesty, presenting the truth plainly. As I often said, ‘The prayer preceding all prayers is, “May it be the real I who speaks”.’² Sincerity demands we approach God and others without the pretense of traditional posturing, trusting in grace as you did.”

Next to Lewis sat a man with a reflective gaze, clearly enjoying the discussion. Augustine of Hippo turned to Lewis and added, “Lewis, Your call for honesty before God echoes my journey. I hid behind rhetoric and philosophy until I faced my restlessness. Sincerity is the soul’s nakedness, embracing truth about ourselves. It is humility, for ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble’ (James 4:6). The proud cling to traditions, disputes, and strategies, like those who boasted of lineage in Paul’s day or chase clout today. I even see methods placed over the mission. Sincerity frees us from such posturing, it seeks only to know and be known by God, even when it costs our pride.”

The newest to join the campfire discussion, Steve Smith, his tone earnest, builds on Augustine's words. “The humility you speak of brings simplicity that allows for reproduction and the unfolding of people as we saw in China. We trained new believers to obey the Great Commission, teaching them to train others, trusting God’s grace to work through their obedience. Not by our merit, but by God’s Spirit, millions came to faith, with countless churches planted. Mission debates over control or strategy, like Luther's indulgences or Paul’s genealogies, stall God’s work. Sincerity is living the gospel with the same bold faith you showed, letting God’s hand, not ours, write the story.”

A Call to Clarity

As the fire dims, the group grows silent, each reflecting on the weight of their words. Tozer breaks the quiet. “Today, the mission world is tangled in foolish discussions - endless debates over definitions, strategies, and political alliances. Sincerity is the antidote. It calls us to step away from pandering and posturing, to return to the simplicity of Christ’s truth. I have faith the Church will figure it out, though, the Great Commission will be completed.”

Luther adds, and closes with a prayerful tone. “The church must stop chasing relevance through worldly means. Sincerity is our witness…

living authentically, speaking truthfully, loving sacrificially.

Let the world argue; we proclaim. May we seek God with undivided hearts, guided by His grace alone.”

The conversation ends, but their words linger, a call to the church today: forsake the noise of foolish disputes and genealogies. Embrace sincerity, authenticity rooted in truth, and let it guide the mission of God’s people in a world desperate for the real.

We all want to discuss things that matter. Things that honor God, and lead us into greater formation as disciples of Jesus! We have been blessed by many great conversations with people over the years that have sharpened us (as well as many foolish conversations we participated in). Let’s learn together, leave a comment below and let’s dialogue!

1. Tozer, A.W., and James L. Snyder. Lead Like Christ. Kindle edition, Location 8074.

2. Lewis, C.S. Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2002. Kindle Edition, location 1234–1236