Christian, Hypocrite or Both?

[Debra]

It seems in the last year the Christian community has truly come under fire for our beliefs.  The media (and others) are quick to point out when a Christian fails or does something wrong.  Christians are also quickly labeled as hate mongerers when we voice our beliefs or opinions about certain situations in society.  But I want to spend just a few moments to discuss what I hear so often from everyday people…Christians are hypocrites so why would I go to church or that Christianity is just a facade that we live behind to judge others.   

Christians are humans.  We are failed people who sin every day of our lives.  If, as a non-Christian, I were to say, “I’m a terrible no good person who can’t do anything right,” would that then excuse me from the judgment of others? Would then somehow my actions be permissible because I have self-identified as being a terrible person in society?  I don’t think so.  Yet because we identify ourselves as Christians we are somehow held to a higher standard, not just to be better, but to be perfect.  I do believe God calls us to seek perfection (in Him), however, no one, Christian, atheist, Jew, Muslim, or other is perfect.  “Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” No matter the label society puts on us or we put on ourselves, we are going to mess up.  Christians do not believe they are excused from judgment for the wrong doing or that they have carte blanche to do as they feel because they are forgiven.  Romans 6:1 warns us that to go on sinning so that grace can increase is a ludicrous belief. 

Furthermore, being a Christian does not suddenly make us act perfectly or even think perfectly.  The apostle Paul saw himself as a hypocrite, if you will, when he said in Romans 7:15-20, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”  The battle is real for Christians…the battle is real for ALL people because we live in a fallen world.  So what do we do?  We seek out salvation from this fallen world and the battle that wages inside us.  We seek help and comfort from Jesus, a man who willingly took on our sins for us…not to excuse them, but to save us from them. 

Being a Christian is the ultimate statement in saying, “I am a failure.  I am a sinner.  I need help to navigate this life.”  It is not a statement of pompous authority or judgmental superiority.  It is an admission of guilt and the need for redemption.  Probably the most famous verse in the world, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” is the reason we call ourselves Christians.  Knowing we are sinful creatures, why would we not seek out a life in Jesus?  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1. 

So, are we Christians or Hypocrites or Both?  I dare say everyone in this life is a hypocrite.  The question is, do I know this and seek help to become better in this world so I may live eternally with God?

 

[James Nored]

Hi Debra! Always great to hear "Thoughts From Deb!" You are so right--all of us sin and make mistakes. Christians are better than anyone else. We just have the hope and forgiveness of Christ, thankfully.

Many blessings, Deb!

[Lynn S. Nored]

Debra,

You have given a very thoughtful discussion of this subject--both from a Christian's point of view and from the point of view of the non-Christian who looks at the Christian life.  There are, however, two definitions of a hypocrite: 

 1.  a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion

2.    a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

I believe that it is the first one that is the problem as far as how the Christian is viewed by the world.  It is the Christian who deliberately puts on the appearance of being a Christian ( knowlingly) to deceive  others that is evil in God's eyes.  Synonyms for "hypocrite" are: 

pretender, dissembler, deceiver, liar,

 As far as the second definition goes, as you state, all Christians struggle with sin.  He who says he does not is also a liar ( ! John 1).  But, the problem lies when Christian act as though "going to church" or even becoming baptised makes them better than others and smugly "perfect."  So, I would [postulate that it is important for Christians to put on the virtue of "humility" to guard agaist this.

P.S: At home this morning. Martha has a serious bowel infection in addition to her lymphoma.  So, have a little time to catch up on James' blog