Are You a Spiritual Hypocrite?

May 27, 2022
Hello Church Family: Do you struggle with moments of spiritual hypocrisy or are you a life-long-card-carrying spiritual hypocrite? Do you declare biblical moral truths with your mouth and yet live out your life morally opposite of that truth? I am sure that you have heard from others who may have been in church or around Christians, or you may have experienced for yourself, the interaction with one vocal obnoxious spiritual hypocrite who declares one thing but lives their life morally opposite. That hypocrite can consume your spiritual experience in church which then brings you to the faulty conclusion that “the church in totality is just a bunch of hypocrites.” This is not the truth, even though that may be your experience in that moment. The truth is that at one point or another in every person’s life we are all guilty of being spiritual hypocrites. That is the nature of sin, we do what we don’t want to do (Romans 7:15-20). The question that we all must ask is, do we pursue a life of spiritual hypocrisy? Is the habit of our lives or is the culture at GCT one of saying, teaching, preaching one thing and yet living and practicing the very moral opposite?

While I was in seminary there were pastors and leaders put before us each week in chapel who were powerful preachers in big churches with huge followings and we (students) were led to think that we should “be just like them.” Well, here we are 25 years later (SBC Guideposts Investigation) and many of those who were put before us each week have turned out to be spiritual hypocrites. Spiritual hypocrisy seems to be everywhere right now. Individual pastors or the leadership of denominations or your local church or your very own Bible Study leader or even your closest friend living a life of spiritual hypocrisy. So, here is my question. Is the spiritual hypocrisy a life-long decision or one event of hypocrisy that brought the heavy life-changing history-changing consequences? God knows that a life of hypocrisy means that the spiritual hypocrite never really intends to be what he pretends to be. We may never really know this side of heaven but we do know this, when we engage in spiritual hypocrisy “The name of God is blasphemed” (Romans 2:23-24).

Any time that we choose to live out our lives morally opposite than what we declare are Biblical commands we are insulting God, shaming God, cursing God, dishonoring God. Our hypocrisy does not just insult and shame people in our lives but it insults and shames God. The New Testament is very clear, God is disgusted with spiritual hypocrites (Matthew 23) and they will not inherit the kingdom of heaven

Do you know where you are most prone to live a life of spiritual hypocrisy? Our very own spiritual hypocrisy can be difficult to detect while we are living it out. Go to scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to point it out. Hypocrisy is rooted in pride. Go to the Gospel and remember, you are a sinner saved by grace given Christ's righteousness because you have no righteousness of your own. The Cross of Christ is the only cure for spiritual hypocrisy. Go to your brother or sister in Christ and ask them where you are spiritually hypocritical and receive their response in love.

See you Sunday striving not to be a hypocrite, Steve

No Comments


Recent

Archive

 2024
 2023
 March
Hebrews 10:24-25Psalm 32Psalm 1Like A Tree...He is our SHIELD, our GLORY, and the LIFTER of our head...No Longer Live For Themselves...We worship a LORD who wants our words, meditations and cries...The goal of all things in each moment everywhere...A stronghold in times of trouble!God keeps you as the little man in His eye.And who is a Rock, except our God?His way is perfect. Always. Forever.The LORD restores your soul perfectly."Whatever the Lord does" is beautiful.The LORD's perfect law will REVIVE your soul.100% Wisdom guaranteed!Come and Claim Your Great Reward.Immeasurable riches for you daily in Christ.Know this! Show this!God's kindness is perfect and the power that leads us to repentance.The LORD loves being a Shepherd.The LORD makes Himself famous by perfectly shepherding us.A Great Shepherd that Promises to Equip Us With Everything Good to do His WillBear a Burden, Share a Burden100% Guaranteed Rest from Your BurdensTGIM: Thank God It's Monday!All of Our Work Matters to God - Yes, Even That WorkLooking Toward November 8 With HopeThe Best Rest!Sola Fide - Faith AloneGod Will Establish His Rule on the Earth Today November 8 and Every Day That FollowsFit for the Kingdom of GodFaithful Prayer brings Faithful Power - God's power.Remembering the Good in Good Friday - Good Friday TimelineFind God's Glory in Every StoryDenying Self Remains Our Call Even During a PandemicCome together in Prayer and Fasting - Wednesday evening to Thursday evening5:13pm Daily - Powerfully Praying TogetherHave you noticed? Can you see it?None of this is meaningless!Grace Community Church's Mitigation Strategy for COVID-19Do not fear; Only believe!Why Demons... today? For God's greatness to be seen more clearly everyday.Having Faith vs. Engaging FaithWhat does your heart hear? - With a hardness, shallowness, thorniness or goodness?Know Your Sins - Know His ForgivenessDoubt your doubts... not Jesus.Compassion Costs Us Something - Invest Your CompassionWonder twin powers - activate! Faith and The Word of GodHoliness is something we are to do because of what we already are - Holy.Boasting in our arrogance in 2020 vs. Resting in God's Providence in 2020Does the start of 2020 find you spiritually renewed or spiritually sleepy?Satan never saw it coming... the IncarnationWhen do you forgive someone's grievous sin against you?Are you a Peacemaker or a Peacefaker?What does gratitude look like today?We Grieve with HopeFear wants to be your boss. God says, nope...What does your anger look like? What is your anger saying?

Categories

no categories

Tags

no tags