Hypocrisy - September 2nd, 2008

Rom.2:17-24 - “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth - you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” In 10 years of college ministry (as both student and staff) I’ve never met a student unwilling to talk about Jesus, nor have I met one who had a negative view of Jesus. Conversely, I’ve met very few who have a high opinion of His Church. We have shamed Christ with our hypocrisy. We don’t need more judgmental hypocrites; we need Spirit led introspection. 1 Peter 4:17 - “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God…” No more judging non-Christians for stealing when we Christians set the bar for covetous materialism. No more judging others for adultery when we, His children, have forsaken our first love. No more judging the world for idolatry when God is last among our priorities. Lk.6:37 - “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” We’ve been given Grace, let’s give Grace. We’ve been shown love, let’s show love. We’ve been forgiven, let’s forgive. We’ve fortified our walls so well no one can see Christ in us any more. I always hear, “God never called you to be a door mat.” Yes He did! 1 Jn.3:16 - “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Forget you rights - you are dead. Lk.9:23-25 - “Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?’” We Christians are so good at self righteousness but pretty bad when it comes to true righteousness. God convict us of sin and give us a heart of repentance and love for you and those around us (Rev.2:4-5).