“I will not be a part of the church any longer because it is full of hypocrites.” Have you ever heard such a statement? It is a deeply distressing thing to hear when all you want is for a dear brother or sister to make it to heaven. To be a hypocrite is to be walking contrary to God’s will, and contrary to what is best for you and your fellow man. In this article, I want to explore hypocrisy, what it is, and how to prevent this sin.
What is Hypocrisy?
Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to be something that you are not. Judas is a classic example of a hypocrite. He chose evil and had betrayed the son of man, and he kissed him appearing to be righteous (cf. Matt. 26:49). Peter also was hypocritical in that he denied the Lord to make it appear he was not with Him (cf. Matt. 26:69-75).
The Pharisees and scribes were known for their hypocrisy, inasmuch that Jesus repeatedly called them such.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.
Matthew 23:27-31
The Pharisees acted the part of religious observant individuals and even tried to whitewash history. Jesus was willing to point this out to them as they opposed Him.
How are Christians Hypocrites Today?
The word hypocrite is from the koine Greek word, hupokrités (ὑποκριτής) which means to literally judge under, or as we would understand an actor in a mask. An actor plays a part and the mask is his costume to help sell him as the character. Sadly, some Christians will put on a mask and play church, Christian, et. al.
A Christian is a hypocrite when he forgets the life he has been called to live and proceeds to live as the ungodly (cf. Heb. 10:26). A hypocrite might act tougher than they really are to impress wicked friends. A hypocrite might curse around friends to impress them. A hypocrite will drink beverage alcohol so others will not believe you are some sort of legalist. A hypocrite may criticize the church to sectarians to try and show how progressive he is. A hypocrite might criticize the eldership to other malcontents to try and establish factions that must not be. A hypocrite assumes that because there are brethren that sometimes sin in the church, that they do not need to be a part of His church (cf. Heb. 10:24-25). Yes, to say that you are leaving the church because of hypocrisy is one of the highest forms of hypocrisy.
Why Should We Always Aim to Avoid Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is a sin and must always be avoided. Hypocrisy is a sin that affects the hypocrite, and, as with all sin, it drives the Christian away from God. The example of a hypocrite drives others away from God. For parents, this must be front of mind. Our children can spot hypocrisy in their parents. If we are constantly inconsistent with our faithfulness, our children will know who is behind the mask we put on Sunday morning or perhaps even Wednesday night. There are also brethren out there, some weak-minded, that will use your hypocrisy to fuel their own willingness to leave the fold of God. Hypocrisy in the church is like dried undergrowth that will surely fuel an inferno with a small spark of discontent.
We must be mindful for the sake of our souls and others. All Christians know that loving God and loving our neighbor were said by Jesus to be the greatest commands (Matt. 22:36-40). We all need to constantly evaluate our lives; are there masks that need to be thrown out? If so, do it today.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
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