A high-school friend was torn between his family’s religious beliefs. His dad had been an avowed atheist since college. Yet his mom lived a devoted Christian life. He settled on calling himself an agnostic. This classmate became a respected medical doctor. Even though he still professed he was an agnostic, he told me he decided to attend church because it was good for his public image. Sad, but Jesus encountered those with this dishonest way of life. Nineteen times He called people hypocrites describing non-believers, pretending they were righteous and holy to be seen by men. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men (Matt 25:3). In particular, He condemned the Pharisees and Scribes for being hypocrites. They blew trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of generosity; they prayed in public places so that people could see them; and put on gloomy faces when they fasted so others would notice. Almost none of them accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
The Barna Group conducted an extensive research project asking non-Christians why they rejected Christianity; 85% responded that it was because the church was full of hypocrites. Several issues exist with this as an excuse. First, people who use this pretext don’t know the biblical meaning of the term ‘hypocrite’. They don’t understand what the church is about or comprehend the distinction between a hypocrite and a genuine disciple. The contemporary definition of a hypocrite and the Biblical meaning aren’t the same. Skeptics try to impose twenty-first century definitions on words in the Bible. The simplest biblical interpretation of hypocrisy is a religious performance to impress people. It is a non-believer pretending to live a virtuous and moral life in public without a change of their heart. Becoming a genuine disciple begins in the heart. These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Mat 15:8 NIV).
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are born again, and He gives us a new spiritual heart. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Co 5:17). Jesus enrolls us in His school of discipleship, which means we become learners and will learn for the rest of lives. Graduation takes place in the final phase of salvation we call glorification. Then our perfecting will be complete. The dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (1Co 15:52). My students in Bible college sought to make perfect grades but often failed to reach their goal. That didn’t disqualify them as students; they kept trying. Born-again believers are disciples striving for perfection. We don’t consistently reach that goal.
John gave the process to follow after we fail. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1Jn 1:9). It doesn’t say confess our sins then chastise ourselves for several weeks attempting to add to Jesus’ finished work. No, after we confess our sin and He forgives us, we are to get up and continue striving for Christlikeness. That does not make the individual a hypocrite when he or she accepts God’s forgiveness and keeps going. A hypocrite is not a person who commits sin on occasions, but they practice sins on a routine basis and continue pretending they are perfect. A hypocrite has a terminal heart condition that requires a heart transplant. A genuine disciple who has a new heart may have a 24-hour bug but takes his medicine [i.e. repentance] and will try again tomorrow.
The church is supposed to be a hospital for spiritually sick people, not a gallery of perfect men and women. Those that use the excuse the church is filled with hypocrites must never go to the doctor or hospital because it is full of sick people. The church is a gathering of imperfect disciples seeking to become more perfect in their walk with Christ by learning, encouraging each other, and worshipping God who has accepted them.
Those who accuse true disciples with hypocrisy are the real hypocrites. They try to deflect attention from their own brokenness by pointing out a genuine disciple’s failure not understanding God has forgiven the disciple’s failure. Note other characteristics. A hypocrite is more concerned with correcting others than themselves. They are judgmental. Jesus is referring to hypocrites when teaching about judging others. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye (Mat 7:3, 5). A hypocrite overlooks all the righteous acts the person they are condemning has done. They should consider Peter who failed by cursing and vowing three times he did not know Jesus. Yet, fifty days later God anointed him to preach and 3000 came to Christ.
Are there hypocrites in the church? Yes, but the majority are genuine disciples. Most hypocrites are outside looking in.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Have you received Christ and become a genuine disciple? If you have been accused of being a hypocrite, rest in Christ’s finished work and keep going.