Christian Pitfalls: Hypocrisy

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?... You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Mathew 7:1-5 (ESV)

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James 1:26 (NIV)

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Titus 1:16 (ESV)

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Matthew 7:21 (NKJV)

If I had to choose the stand-out reason… unbelievers REMAIN unbelieving, the stand-out answer is hypocrisy.

If we consider our stand-out Savior’s sharp indictment in Matthew 23,* our Captain is announcing the danger.

So-called Christians, who didn’t act like Christ, kept ME from Jesus for 51 years. I judged the King by those who claimed His Name.

Also consider:

Hypocrisy has two opposing faces.

  • One face is a holier-than-thou mask. It’s quick to find fault and quick to condemn.

  • The other face is cunning self-interest, wrapped in extreme religiosity.

Both pose an authority they don’t have. It's in church-going, but not church-being. It's in the Bible, but not in action. Hypocrisy is a dead-end driveway.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

I know YOU know and hate hypocrisy. Jesus knows it, too. Your top job is to set the record straight about Who Jesus actually IS--by your own humility, love, and hope.

But, if given an opportunity, hypocrisy tries to creep up on you.

How?

  1. Thinking you’re better than other people, like the Pharisee did in the temple.**

  2. Hanging with a group of Christian “judges”. The people around us DO affect us.

Bottom line: Stay real, confess your faults, and DO NOT JUDGE!

* Matthew Chapter 23: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2023&version=NKJV

** Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A9-14&version=NKJV

*** Proverbs 22:24:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=pro+22%3A24&version=NKJV

*** Proverbs 13:20:

biblegateway.com/passage/?search=pro+13%3A20&version=NKJV

*** 1 Corinthians 15:33:

https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/15-33.htm

Christian Pitfalls: Hypocrisy (Part 38)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban