Sorry, perhaps a little too much alliteration!
Today, I have a confession to make. Maybe this has never happened to you, but I have to admit I caught myself being hypocritical recently. Perhaps we all do things that we say or believe are wrong. If so, we’re all on the same playing field.
However, that doesn’t mean some acts of hypocrisy aren’t more consequential than others, especially when experienced by those trying to determine whether or not Christianity is worth devoting their lives to. No devotee of any worldview perfectly represents it, but imperfection is never an excuse to minimize inconsistency, particularly when we’re supposed to be reflecting a perfect God. So for all of us hypocrites and all of us hurt by hypocrisy, here’s help to heal the harm (oops, alliteration strikes again!).
1. Hypocrisy is wrong, not excusable
Though no one should expect perfection from Christians, preaching without practicing merits an apology and amends, not an excuse (and none of the following are meant as one).
2. People choose Christianity because they know they’re sinners in need of a savior
Especially for newer Christians, it takes time to shed harmful habits, so patience is appreciated. That being said, none of us should have to maintain patience for those who have long known better and yet persist in their duplicity. Rather…
3. Such people might not have actually become Christians yet
People cannot become Christians without wanting to be more like God and accepting his standards of morality and perfection. So if they’re never shedding harmful habits, they may very well have not truly chosen Christianity…which means Christianity and its God are just as opposed to their hypocrisy as you are.
4. Neither the creator of a tool nor the tool itself is at fault for someone else’s misuse of it
Are either a scalpel or a scalpel manufacturer at fault if a surgeon misuses the blade to harm instead of heal? Of course not. Neither God nor Christianity are faulty in hypocrisy, only the people who abuse them for non-Christian ends.
5. Many people are upset with “Christian” hypocrites because they agree with Christianity
If you consider it bad for a person to hypocritically do the opposite of what his faith commands, you have found agreement with that faith rather than a reason to reject it (Click to tweet). You may actually desire the very religion/God that you are using hypocrisy as an excuse against! Which means…
6. The most healing response to a faith you wish people would more genuinely practice may be to show them what genuinely practicing that faith looks like
In doing so, you’ll better understand their difficulty, exclude that religion or its God as the problem, and potentially save two people instead of none.
7. Jesus responded in exactly that way (#6) to hypocrisy
And he did so while being verbally and physically abused, tortured, and killed by hypocrites. Although it is sometimes over-dramatized (and we need to admit when it is), the harm of hypocrisy is real and often very deep. The Christian God uniquely put himself in your shoes so you don’t have to endure it alone (Click to tweet).
Anything to add to or change about the above? Your experiences are unique, and your insights are welcome. We discuss more about healing from hypocrisy in Healing Hereafter as well. Download the ebook for FREE here (especially Booklet 5)!
And always attempt to avoid annoying alliteration. 😛
Have a great finish to your week!
