HYPOCRITES!? YIKES! THAT IS AN UGLY WORD. It sure gets thrown around a lot in the Christian world. I don’t think most people even know what it means. In short, hypocrisy means acting as if you are what you are not. It is the word used for an actor in a play. He is only playing a part.
Hypocritical behavior would be me yelling at others to stop texting and driving when I whip out my phone at the light to check a text. I know. I’m working on it. For the record, please stop texting and driving.
As a Christian, it is acting as a godly believer when in reality you are harboring hidden sin. You want to appear a certain way. In today’s social media this is not a hard feat. Hypocrisy could also be called false humility and it involves living a lie.
I had a man tell me one time that we are all hypocrites. No man. That’s your problem, not mine. He was acting as if he was a faithful servant when in fact he was living in gross sin. I have my own issues I struggle with, but living a lie is not one of them. I live behind close doors the same as I live in public. I do not pretend to be someone I am not. Just ask my children. If I mess up, I ask for forgiveness and move on. I don’t pretend as if I have never done anything wrong. I live what I teach. Jesus warns us,
“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is NOTHING covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known” Luke 12:1-2
The heaven of the Pharisees was hypocrisy- they taught men to keep a standard that they did not keep. Guess what? You are not getting away with the things that you think you are getting away with. Post whatever you want others to see on social media, but the Lord knows what goes on behind closed doors. What is done secretly will be at some point openly revealed.
Now, sure, there has been hypocrisy in the church, I’ve heard horrible stories of injustice and abuse, darkness, rebellion, greed and the like; and God is in the process of exposing the hypocrites. However, the Christians I know are just struggling to live this life as best as they can in an ungodly world. They are fighting the good fight and contending for the faith. The pastors I know and associate with are endeavoring to preach righteousness and be found faithful to deliver up a holy church that’s been given to them to shepherd.
“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:27-28
If you’ve been hurt, I’m sorry. God is still God and He is still good. His Word still stands faithful and you are to obey His Word. Disobedience is rebellion and rebellion is witchcraft. His church is still His bride and you need to be a part. Do not forsake the public gathering of the local assembly.
For two thousand years the local church has met publicly on the first day of the week- Sunday. Don’t be a hypocrite saying you love the Lord but do not obey Him. If you are a hypocrite, you need to get down on your knees and repent; but if you examine yourself by the Word and the Holy Spirit, and you are good before the Lord; then do not listen to the lies of the enemy. He sure likes to throw that word your way- DO NOT RECEIVE IT! March on like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
