Suburban Legends: Christians are Hypocrites

Series: Suburban Legends:
Christians are Hypocrites by Ted Beasley - April 22, 2007

We continue in the series, “Suburban Legends: Myths, Facts, and Half-Truths about God.” Ted acknowledged that some of us have been burned by clergy and their secret lives, spiritual leaders who didn’t practice what they preached, judgmental Christians who condemned the beliefs or behavior of others, or ‘religious’ parents who lived much different lives the other six days of the week.

Ted asked us, “Have you ever been betrayed by a Christian hypocrite? What did that do to your faith?”

With this question in mind, let’s review a few points about hypocrisy.

The word, hypocrite from the Greek word literally means, “One who stands under the judgment of another.” Ted explained that hypocrites were actors. Greek actors simply switched masks in order to play various roles. So a hypocrite is someone who wears a mask, who preaches one thing, but does another.

Jesus said, Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:22-23) Jesus is describing a scene that Scripture describes as the Day of Judgment, the final reckoning. And Jesus says on that day, some really well-dressed, well-behaved people who know their Bibles backwards and forwards will say to me on that day, “We checked off all the boxes on the list. We were good upstanding churchgoers.”

And Jesus will reply, “And you are?”

1.Why do you think Jesus says, “I never knew you.” And why does He label them, ‘evil doers’? Is Jesus is shunning them for not being morally perfect? Turn to another person and share your ideas for 2 minutes.

2. Ted said, we’d all be doomed if Jesus pronounces a death sentence on all sinners. Seventeen times in the gospels, however, Jesus speaks against hypocrites. Why is Jesus so tough on hypocrites, the ‘mask wearers’? Take 2-3 minutes and talk this over with another person.

3. People often say, “I won’t go to church because it’s full of hypocrites.” On the other hand, many of us participate in politics, send our kids to schools, or run businesses that are often hypocritical. Our challenge: Why, then, do we determine to avoid church because we see hypocrisy in the church? Discuss with another person your reaction to this argument.

Ted’s point, “Hypocrisy is a human condition, and so is the need to judge other people’s hypocrisy. Because when we can catch people living a lie, it gives us temporary amnesia about how we fall short of our own standards. Hypocrisy – it’s a human thing. It’s human to have strongly held beliefs and not be able to live up to them.”

Jesus cried, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matthew 23:37)

4. Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem? How have the religious and their rules and regulations hijacked authentic faith? Please take a few minutes and discuss.

5. With these thoughts as a backdrop, talk about your own experience of Christian hypocrisy. Ted said we often react in one of three ways when confronted with hypocrisy: We run away. We are judgmental. We develop a hunger for truth inside us. How do you react when confronted with hypocrisy?
In the CS Lewis series, Chronicles of Narnia, and the book, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Eustace, the very selfish boy, finds himself trapped inside of a dragon. He begins to see the error of his ways, but he can’t get out of the dragon skin by himself. The lion helps Eustace free himself of the dragon scales, and he becomes a boy again.

6. How do you relate to Eustace? Why did Eustace need the lion to be freed?
Can you free yourself, or do you need the power of Jesus Christ to be freed of an area where you are stuck in hypocrisy. You just can’t do what you know is right, and what you want to do. Share your need for freedom with another person and consider praying for each other this week. It is encouraging to remember we can approach God with absolute confidence when we are authentic with Him.


Bible Verses from the Message

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. (Titus 1:7)

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. (Mark 9:42)

Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn't so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done.

You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. (Romans 2:1-4)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-15)

So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body. So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Related Next-Step Resources:

• Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (available at Gateway Bookstore)
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (available at Gateway Bookstore)
• Letter from a Skeptic by Gregory A. Boyd (available at Gateway Bookstore)
  

Want more... or something different?

Check out more information about Christianity at Knowing God available at Gateway's Way of Christ Next-Steps Website

Prior Sunday message on date (audio available at Gateway's Sunday Message Archive) (the most recent Sunday message is usually available by the following Tuesday at this site)

(Note - today's blog was done by guest blogger Jan Shurtz - Thanks Jan!)