An Hypocrite is a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold, in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives." - Audio English.
A couple of weeks ago I talked about the difference in beliefs and convictions. Beliefs are something you base upon a gathering of facts and/or information. Convictions are beliefs for which you are willing to give your life. Big difference! I fear that too many of us have beliefs and not convictions, and many more have neither.
This past week brought my convictions to the forefront and left my beliefs simmering in a pot of realization that I need to spend more time in the Word and prayer to make sure that they align with what God says. Supported by the Word of God, my convictions will stand, my beliefs may still need a little work.
I don't think any of us want to be thought of as being a hypocrite. But, the truth is, we are. How can we call ourselves Christians when we stand for some truth but not all truth? We desire to be forgiven, yet we don't freely forgive. We want God's grace, but we are not so quick to extend grace to the fallen. I wonder how many were in that drive-thru line at the restaurant this week, standing in solidarity for free speech and upholding the traditional family unit, are verbally abusive to their spouse and children? How many of them are fornicators, idolaters, drunkards, covetous, swindlers?
We are so quick to point fingers at another person's sin, and so blind to our own. We single out certain sins as worse than others. I Corinthians 6:9-11 says,
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God."
What is interesting about this verse is that it was written to Christians. These early church Christians had been involved in many of those activities, but had changed after receiving Christ Jesus as the Messiah and Lord of their lives. What Paul was telling them is that no person can live in these sins and enter the kingdom of God. Did he single out one sin? NO! He said they were all sins. Let's take a closer look at them:
Fornicators - anyone who is sexually involved with anyone other that their husband or wife. Premarital sex, living together and being sexually active prior to marriage, teenagers involved in sex, anyone who is having sex with anyone who is not their husband or wife.
Idolaters -anyone who puts value of any kind on something or someone above God is an idolater.
Adulterers -anyone who is unfaithful to their spouse, whether it be a one-night stand, or an ongoing affair.
Effeminate -refers to someone who is the passive partner in a homosexual relationship
Homosexual -refers to the one who takes the leading role in a homosexual relationship
Thieves -anyone who takes something that doesn't belong to them, including, but not limited to, anyone who gains through dirty business dealings, is a thief.
Covetous -doing anything you can to get something you want, wanting something that belongs to someone else
Drunkards -anyone who overindulges drink of any kind, whether it be beer, wine, whiskey, anything that alters their ability to function or think clearly.
Revilers -verbal abusers
Swindlers -smooth talkers who charm others out of things..ill-gotten gains
The Bible clearly states that those who practice any of these things will not enter heaven. I personally believe the church has lost a lot of its power, because it is filled with people who think they are Christians, but are living in sin. The good news is that we can repent and God forgives. Repentance means to turn away from doing a particular sin, not repeating it over and over again. I also believe that many "Christians" are going to be shocked when they aren't taken out of here during the rapture, because they continue to deny the power of Christ and His Word, and continue to dally and play around with sin.
To my point, if we felt so strongly about the traditional family unit, why aren't we stopping the killing of millions of babies every year? Why do we turn and look the other way when we know a brother or sister in the Lord is living in sin? Why do we single out a sin? We are hypocrites, that's why!
We are doing a great job of demonstrating to a lost and dying world what we are against. What are we doing to show them what we are for and why we are for it? We are doing a great job of alienating a hurting people from ever wanting to know about Jesus and His gift of grace to ALL people. We have prison ministries, ministries to addicts, help for the homeless, clothing and food for the poor, but where are our gay ministries?
I am pro-life and I believe that marriage is God ordained to be between a man and a woman. I believe in taking a stand for my convictions and for what is right. What I have trouble with is that we aren't also ministering to those who oppose this viewpoint. We can't proclaim "Hate the sin, love the sinner." if all they get from us is anti-or hate.
My heart was broken and I was deeply saddened this week as I personally know and have friends who are gay/lesbian. It is very difficult to witness to them when all they see and hear from Christians is how against them we are. Why would they want to become a Christian? Please tell me! All we seem to do is hurt them more. My conviction is that we are to love them to Jesus and let Him do the changing. That's true of all of us and all of our sins. If Jesus was here Wednesday, what do you think He would have done? Would he have felt compassion for the ones who were being ostracized, or would he have stood on a soapbox with a chicken sandwich in one hand and pointed fingers with the other? I wonder. Don't get me wrong. It is a great thing that Mr. Cathy said what he believed to be right and biblically sound. What I take issue with is the fact that the homosexual community did not view the Chick-Fil-A day as standing for free speech, but just another attack against them.
Hypocrisy is not limited to our political or moral stand. It is rampant in the churches. Answer another question for me. If we believe that Jesus is alive today and every day, and we base our faith on that, then why do we only stand or raise our hands once or twice a year when a certain song is sung? It has to be emotion, or the one time we feel free enough to do so, because if it is true worship, we would be standing and/or lifting our hands in praise to God all the time, with each song that tells of His love and deliverance, and freedom from sin. True and pure worship is not about a pretty song or a person or anything about us at all, it is all about Jesus! What are the lyrics to that song..."I'm coming back to the heart of worship, cause it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it, when it's all about you." We are bound by the chains of hypocrisy, bound by the worry of what someone else might think of us if we worship freely all the time.
I don't know about you, but I have been convicted this week by the way I have acted in the past, and the ignorance I have displayed, with all good intention. But, how are we to know the difference unless we study the Bible and pray for the guidance, wisdom, and leadership of the Holy Spirit? How are we to win anyone to Jesus without extending grace? I'm troubled in my spirit. I don't want to be a hypocrite. Do you?
This blog post is strictly from my heart and does not necessarily reflect the beliefs or convictions of other members of ISBC.
Pam Archer, Director
Women's Ministry
