Hypocrites in the Church?
Ponder: Are there hypocrites in the church?
Scripture: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:10, NKJV).
“I want nothing to do with all those hypocrites at church!” Worn threadbare though it is, people still offer this excuse to justify their failure to be a member of the church or to assemble with the saints. Is it a valid reason?
Are there hypocrites in the church? Undoubtedly there are a few! But the vast majority of Christians are sincere. The church is NOT full of hypocrites! It is full of imperfect Christians, all of whom make mistakes (some whoppers!), most of whom are growing and trying to improve. I have never met a Christian who claimed to be perfect. Imperfection is NOT the same as hypocrisy!
If a hypocrite stands between you and God, the hypocrite must be closer to God than you are! Indeed, the hypocrite-hunter stands self-condemned. If hypocrites (real or imagined) keep you from the church, then they are also standing between you and God, for we are reconciled to God “in one body” (Ephesians 2:16), and that body is the church (Ephesians 1:22, 23). By implication, you acknowledge that the hypocrite is closer to God than you are!
If you are hiding behind a hypocrite, the hypocrite must be bigger than you are! You can’t hide behind a pebble, but you can hide behind a boulder if it is larger than you are. If you are shirking your God-given responsibilities by hiding behind a hypocrite (real or imagined), you imply that the hypocrite is bigger than you are!
Would you rather associate with a handful of hypocrites in the church now, or be with multitudes of them eternally? Jesus said the evil servant’s master would “cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites” (Matthew 24:51). That doesn’t sound particularly appealing, does it? If faithfully serving God requires me to associate with a few hypocrites for a while here, that’s far better than being with ALL the hypocrites eternally in Hell!
Hollering “Hypocrite!” is a hoax!
Song: “God’s Family”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us not to assume the worst about each other. Rather, may we help and encourage each other to walk closer to you each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)