THOSE
HYPOCRITES
People
are becoming fed up with "organized religion." There are
any number of reasons for this. Some people just don't want to be
told what to do, so when the scriptures are read that demands our
submission to His will, it becomes repugnant to them and they choose
to reject "religion" because it doesn't "agree with
them." Others are turned off by the fact that there is so much
"religious confusion" in the world that they don't know
what
to believe. This has resulted in an attitude that says that it
doesn't really matter what
you believe, just as long as you are sincere. Paul proved this to be
unfounded reasoning when he confessed that "...I myself thought
I must do many things contrary
to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9) and then later
said, "...but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in
unbelief." (1 Tim. 1:13)
One
thing you could say about Paul was that he was true to what he
believed and he didn't try to be something that he was not. This
brings us to what is probably the greatest "turn-off" to
people; the hypocrisy that runs rampant in modern-day "religion."
I have personally known of several who could no longer stand to see
the hypocrisy among those who claimed to be "righteous," so
they quit attending the worship services where they had once been a
member. I can remember one person who disassociated himself from
anything "religious" to the point of becoming agnostic -
all because he was personally hurt so badly by a preacher who
demanded conformity to God's law, but who put himself above the law
of God by committing adultery with his wife. In my feeble efforts
over the years to persuade these people, there is little that I have
been able to say to them to bring them any comfort or to win their
hearts to the Lord. What do you say to people who have been crushed
by the influence of hypocrisy and don't want to see or hear any more?
After
Peter pointed out that "prophecy never came by the will of man,
but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit"
(2 Pet. 1:21), he was quick to point out that such was not a
guarantor of an absence of error in the world. However, error would
come through unfaithful
men. Peter said that even during the former days of the prophets,
"...there were also false
prophets among the people, even
as there will be false teachers among you,
who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the
Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction."
(2 Pet. 2:1)
Jesus
warned those of His day to "Beware of false prophets, who come
to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."
(Mt. 7:15) This is the epitome of hypocrisy, and it is nowhere so
obvious and so repulsive than among those who pass themselves off as
"religious."
As
powerful as God's word is, the negative influence of Satan in the
lives of those who play into his hand is lethal. His greatest ally
against truth and righteousness is the hypocrite. Peter continued
his warning on this matter by saying that, "...many will follow
their (the
false teacher's)
destructive ways, because
of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed."
(2 Pet. 2:2) Let me emphasize Peter's observation about the
negative influence of hypocrisy; "the way of truth" ends up
being "evil spoken of" by those who can only see the
hypocrisy.
God's
word is truth (Jn. 17:17), it is powerful, described as being
"...sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit..." (Heb. 4:12) and its influence in
a dark world of sin is the impetus that can prick the hearts of men
to repent (Acts 2:37) and walk in a new direction in Christ. Paul
proclaimed this "gospel" (or good news) to be "...the
power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..." (Rom.
1:16). But in spite of the powerful nature of the gospel to bring
someone to the Lord, it only takes one hypocrite to negate all of the
good that was once realized in the life of one who once believed.
Jesus
rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for the damage done by their
hypocrisy. He said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte
(convert),
and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as
yourselves." (Mt. 23:15) He also rebuked them for their
"traditions" that flew in the face of God and negated the
influence of the scriptures for good; "Hypocrites! Well did
Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'These people draw near to Me with
their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far
from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men.'" (Mt. 15:7-9)
Yes,
it is sad but true - anyone who is looking for hypocrisy in the
church can find it. Paul recognized this to be true and warned the
young preacher, Timothy, by using this illustration; "But in a
great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also
of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor." (2 Tim.
2:20) In my house you will find some fine china that was given to
Nancy and I when we married. You will also find a mixed array of
"cheap" dishes and bowls. Paul's illustration does not
speak of the value
of the differing vessels, but that in God's house, you will find
those who are faithful to Him and those who are not. Some of those
who are not, often still try to appear that they are. This is
hypocrisy. Disgusting? Yes. Reality? Yes, and for any church to
disclaim that such does not exist is in itself hypocrisy.
Does
this mean that God's people are to just accept the inevitable and
say, "Oh well, that's just the way it is." ? No! That's
what the church at Corinth did. Rather than being remorseful over
the blatant sexual immorality of one of their members, Paul said that
they were "...puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he
who has done this deed might be taken away from among you." (1
Cor. 5:2) When churches fail to "deal with" such sin,
their failure is a passive act of hypocrisy. What comfort can be
given to those who are fed up with the hypocrisy they see in
"religion?" Only this reassurance; "For the time has
come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with
us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of
God." (1 Pet. 4:17) and "...all things are naked and open
to the eyes of Him to
whom we must give account."
(Heb. 4:13)
-
Gary V. Womack - November 2004