Yes, the church is full of hypocrites. Repenting hypocrites, but hypocrites nonetheless. But it doesn't mean we should act like one. I think that is my biggest frustration with Christians within and outside of the church ... their inability to act like Christians.
Recently I heard the story about a young married couple who found out before their nuptials that they were expecting a baby. When this couple, post wedding, went to worship at their church, they were told they were no longer welcome there. Say what?! Why? Because they fornicated? Since when is that sin any greater than the one committed by the folks within the church walls? Yes, they sinned, but they got married, repented and were coming to worship the One who died for them. And church members tell them to leave? Good heavens.
Then I heard the story of a teenage girl who recently moved to a new area with her family. The family tried out a new church near their new home and sent their daughter to the youth group. The teen was welcomed to youth and had a great time. However, when she went to school the next day, she was snubbed by the very youth who welcomed her the day before. As a result, the family chose not to attend there, informing the youth pastor of the reason. The youth were hypocrites. Proclaiming the love and acceptance of Christ, but not living it.
Jesus Christ, while loving us in our various states of sin, has choice words to say to hypocrites. He called them vipers, snakes and blind guides. He says repeatedly, "Woe to you," and at one point even says, "How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matt. 23:33). Christ tells his followers about these hypocrites in Matthew 23:3 "Therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach." How sad and pathetic is that? Christ knew our lives would be a sad example of what he wanted us to be. Gandhi spoke of it when he said, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
What did Christ call us to do? His greatest commands were to love: first God, then our neighbor as ourself. He also asked us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey. All well and good, but that means we need to obey as well.
I cannot tell you how many people have treated me poorly in churches. Christians. They have lied to me, betrayed me, excluded me and made fun of me. Within the church walls. And sadly, I must include myself in this, because I know I have done the same at various times. We are a church of hypocrites, this we know, but good heavens, we should be working diligently, continuously, enthusiastically to make sure we don't. What example are we setting?
Are you excluding a soul at church? Are you treating someone poorly? Are you cussing? Are you lying? Are you stealing? Are you committing adultery? Are you not forgiving? Are you gossiping? Are you slandering? Are you making fun of someone? Well, for heaven's sake, for Christ's sake, for our sake and that of the soul you are hindering in their faith journey - stop it.
I expect I'll see non-Christians behaving in a non-loving manner, breaking moral laws and ignoring Scripture, but to see Christians doing it is so disheartening. Who would want to worship with those people? People who call themselves Christian and behave as if they are not should be the rarity, not the norm, and I'm seeing more and more examples of the latter than the former. Christians, hear your Savior! "For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves" (Matt. 23:15); "For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matt. 23:27-28).
Do you remember the old Gatorade commercial with Michael Jordan where the choir sang, "Like Mike, if I could be like Mike?" As the children of God we need to be singing, "Like Christ, if I could be like Christ." Let our lives reflect those of the One True King. Stop yourself before you treat another of God's children - created in His image - as lesser than you. Be obedient to the teachings of our Lord. When we become selective and wishy washy in that obedience, our example is like that which Christ referred to when He said, "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt. 18:6) Christ demands much of us, and expects us to do it.
Do you know what hypocrite means? It means a liar, a contradiction, a pretender. I proclaim I am a Christian ... a little Christ. It's about time those who proclaim that label act like it.
