“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation.”
Matthew 23:13-14
I know you’ve heard it. “Christians are such hypocrites.” In fact, I know you know people who do not go to church, don’t trust the Church, or even refute the existence of God because this statement is true.
If you haven’t been under a rock recently, you’ve read or seen media coverage on the tragic fall of the president of the largest Christian university in the world. The situation is sad and disappointing. And the media, along with unbelievers everywhere, are almost giddy as they report (um, attack) with a sparkle in their eyes this man, his family, his family name, and—of course—the university. (Don’t get me wrong, he’s made very poor decisions over the years, and I pray his heart turn back wholly to the Lord.)
(I will also say, though, that my heart is utterly broken for the students and faculty who wholeheartedly love the Lord…and the generations of graduates since 1971 who are making a profound impact for Christ globally.)
But, fellow Christians, I have one request of us before we—with the masses—face his image on the TV or computer screen, point, and shout, “You hypocrite!”
First, go to a mirror, face your own image, point, and shout, “You hypocrite!”
Yes, the Church is hypocritical—it’s full of hypocrites! Its chairs are filled (well, 50% or so filled at present) with people like you and me. Fallen human beings who, although saved by grace, still live in the world. We have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ, so that when we stand before a perfect and holy God, we will be seen as worthy of His presence…but we’re not there yet. We’re here. In this world, in this broken body and depraved mind. Right now, we are not perfect—no one standing on this earth can proclaim otherwise.
That being said, as Christians, we—through the power of the Holy Spirit—still must strive to live an authentic life. We must read the Word and walk in the Word, doing our best not to “turn to the left or to the right” (Proverbs 4:27). And we recognize that we will fail. Like the great Apostle Paul bemoaned, we do the things we don’t want to do, and we don’t do the things we want to do (Romans 7:15-20). But, as we stand firm on God’s Truth, we ask—and receive—forgiveness (from others and from God), and we keep moving ahead.
So, whenever we see or hear of “hypocritical” Christians, stop, turn to the nearest mirror, and pray.
“Lord, thank You for making me a new, perfected creation in Christ. As I await living out that perfection with You in heaven, help me to live authentically, let me seek Your forgiveness when I fail, and help me extend grace to others.”
encouraged by grace 