In a recent survey that asked people (Christian and non-Christian) what they thought of the average Christian, the most common answer by far was "hypocritical."
Ouch. But this really strikes home. I wonder what people would say if they were asked this about me and about my Christian walk. Do I truly love the unloveable? Do I truly give like I have plenty? Do I truly live like Jesus did? Am I a good example of what Christ looked like?
I would like to say that the label "hypocrite" doesn't fit us. I would like to say it's just people who have met maybe one or two "Christians." "They haven't met me," we think. But what if they have? What sets you apart? Do you live the life that God set you out to live? or are you living for yourself?
Somewhere along the line of living for Christ and following after him it seems that we decide we have enough. Enough Jesus to make us "good people" enough to get us into heaven, enough to be comfortable in church on Sunday and then say nothing about the incredible God we claim to not be able to live or move or breathe without. Somewhere along the way we start worshiping the "god" who doesn't mind if we lie as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. The "god" who doesn't mind if we get drunk on the weekend as long as we're in the pew on Sunday looking like everybody else. The "god" who doesn't mind if we watch that movie as long as we don't live it out. The "god" who doesn't care that I didn't give any of my paycheck to him this week because I NEED that money just to scrape by.
Is "hypocrite" starting to seem like an accurate label for us?
Well, let me just say that the TRUE God says that He is the TRUTH, no lie would ever have a place near Him; He can give us far greater comfort than any bottle ever could; He can give us joy far greater than any pleasure experieced on this earth; and He will provide for every need that you could ever have.
Being a disciple of Christ requires 100% obedience. If you're only giving 99% it's not gonna work.
Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Let's start living the things we say we believe in. Let's erase this label that has come to define us. "Hypocrite" would never define Christ, why should it define us???
