I read a great article online at relevant.com entitled “When Christians Get It Wrong” by Adam Hamiltion. Here’s a portion of what he wrote…
If Pharisees are religious people who struggle with wrong motives, with being critical and judgmental of others, with missing the point and with being two-faced, then I’ve got to confess, I am a recovering Pharisee who often falls off the wagon. Everyone I know, religious people and atheists alike, struggle with these four tendencies.
It is so easy to do the right things for all the wrong reasons. It is so easy to point out the sins of others while ignoring our own. Most of us are experts at “majoring in the minors” while failing to do the really important things God demands of us. And which of us has never put on a face and pretended to be something we’re not? It is only in recognizing our tendency to be Pharisees that we have any hope of remaining in recovery. My experience with non-religious people is that they do not expect Christians to be perfect. In fact, one young adult said: “I don’t mind that you Christians don’t live up to your ideals. I don’t live up to all of my ideals either. In the end, I guess we’re all hypocrites. It’s just that I and my friends recognize that we’re hypocrites. It seems that many Christians haven’t figured this out yet.” Again, the hypocrisy of Christians is most troubling to non-Christians when we point out the sins of others.
It’s not a surprise to any of us that there is a gap which often exists between Christians and non-Christians fueled by this issue of hypocrisy. What I want to know is what do you think we can do as believers to help close that gap?
What’s one thing you think you can do today?
I think a lot of realize we are hypocrites and we get put into the same category as those Christians who don’t realize.
No matter…
We should love. They should know us because we love. A practical way I can do this is say, “Yes, dear, what can I do for you” when my wife needs my help.
I think in our world we can be bombarded by voices that not only exemplify these wrong motives, critical spirit, judgment and hypocrisy but even encourage others to do the same. The voices can come from media (tv programs, radio hosts, authors, newspaper columnists, etc) or people we actually know (friends, politicians, co-workers, family).
To close the gap I think we have to thoughtfully examine what voices we’re letting into our lives. If they are promoting thought that only widens the gap, we need to first recognize them and ask ourselves if they are influencing us in a direction away from the love and grace that Christ demonstrated for us. Then, perhaps we may need to tune them out completely.
Great thoughts Aaron. I couldn’t agree more.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing a belief or value that doesn’t align with one’s actions.
I think, out of guilt and fear, we’ve somewhat misused this term as it relates to Christianity. If I act morally imperfect but tell people that God’s standards are perfect, am I a hypocrite?
If I say that adultery is wrong and confess a struggle with lust, am I a hypocrite?
I think that we can boldly share what we understand to be true and at the same time boldly confess our own shortcomings. The hypocrisy comes when we try to hide our own indiscretions or do not spend time dealing with our own issues.
I liked Jon Acuff’s post on CNN.com that sort of deals with this issue – not so much for his self-effacing remarks about his own Christianity, but rather because of all comments from atheists saying, “Hey, we can be jerks, too.”
It may be that hypocrisy is just a human condition – not necessarily something that we should excuse or justify, but that we certainly shouldn’t relegate to Christianity.
Well said!!
When non-believers see the way that Christians treat each other I think this is one major factor in their response to any message we try to present. Why would they want to be like us when we act like we hate each other. Christians are among the worst group of people for killing their own wounded. When the attitudes of Christians change concerning one another, I believe the gap will begin to close.
If the term ‘sin’ deals with ‘missing the mark’ then it is very easy for all of us to fess up and admit that we don’t always (or even mostly) reach or attain the levels of commitment that we believe in. That can be applied to matters of faith or secular/humanistic moral codes of conduct.
We all fail to live up to the measure of goodness that we perceive we should live at.
However… and this is important…
There is a distinction in the sin that is committed that is committed against a holy God whether by commission or omission .. whether in ignorance or in knowledge.
There is a necessity to point out the sinful nature in ourselves as well as in others (especially to those who are not believers) not to degrade them but to make them aware of their and our need for God. We cannot simply throw away the Romans verse that states that we have All Sinned and come short of the Glory of God. But having voiced that verse, it is then necessary to define what sin IS. And that should be done in loving instruction from a shared perspective not in a shameful degrading from a pious position.
We don’t degrade the cancer victim because they need chemo to fight the disease – we have compassion.. especially those that have faced cancer and received chemo. How compassionate would it be if you knew someone had cancer but didn’t tell them they had it and never offered information that could help save their life?
I assume the writer of the article was addressing that segment of Christianity that stands in pious seclusion from the lost world when he wrote, “Again, the hypocrisy of Christians is most troubling to non-Christians when we point out the sins of others.”
Isn’t it an equal or greater hypocrisy for the christian to know they have a shared sin disease and stand silent?
I guess what I am trying to voice here is that there are two extremes that we should avoid: the pious isolationism of the pharisee and the apathetic silence of the spiritual tolerant.
Somewhere in the middle we can find the compassion to share with others truth and grace… because we have experienced it ourselves.
I’m a huge fan of this balanced approach Tony.
I have a bad habit of prejudging people. It’s something I do in my head and almost immediately I have to say to myself, “Stop it, Morgan! You don’t want to be judged, do you? You don’t know that person and what their story is.” It’s something I am constantly trying to work on. So the one thing I can do today is set aside my own insecurities and welcome each person into my life with the love that God so willingly gives each of us.
“I don’t mind that you Christians don’t live up to your ideals. I don’t live up to all of my ideals either. In the end, I guess we’re all hypocrites. It’s just that I and my friends recognize that we’re hypocrites. It seems that many Christians haven’t figured this out yet.”
I wish that non-religious people could see though how much judgment and finger-pointing they give Christians while letting fellow non-religious actions and behavior just slide. I mean I just get tired of this “Christians are hypocrites” argument. Yeah some are. But that’s people for you. I just feel people notice it more with Christians because they keep track of it more.
I understand what you’re saying Andy but don’t you think to some degree we have a higher degree of integrity that we’re held to as believers. Shouldn’t the worlds expectations be higher of us?
Yeah definitely. But I feel the worlds exceptions come with harsh judgment if you don’t live up to them.
And I also feel Christians good actions get drowned out by the mistakes we are making. There are so many amazing Christians doing so many incredible things but it seems like all we ever hear is “Christians are hypocrites”, “Christians did this,” “Christians did that.” I hope I don’t come off as whiny, lol. XD
Pete, As a young lay leader, I got taken to the woodshed for telling our congregation that “we’re all hypocrites.” Maybe I should have been more clear and said, “We all want our belief to drive our behavior – but that isn’t always the case. In fact, if we are honest, it is a daily struggle that seems littered with more failure than success.”
But, I was trying to save words and cut to the chase – so I just said, “we’re all hypocrites.” That did not set well. I guess either way the words are true – and when the truth is unvarnished – wait – without wax (thank you Pete!) people have a little harder time with it. Do people bristle at the Holy Spirit the same way they bristle at those who preach His way?
Destroy our model of church (small c church).
Going past the idea that church happens behind four walls and into the idea that church happens outside the four walls.
I rarely, if ever, disagree with you but it’s been my experience, Pete, that non-Christians DO expect us to be perfect. I see that as the biggest gap between us.
Let a Christian do something wrong – have an affair, get drunk, or just fill in the blank with any “non-Christian” activity you can think of – and the non-believers start harping about “oh yeah, he CLAIMS to be a Christian, but look how he’s acting.” Or how about this one: “People like him are exactly why I’m against Christianity. Christians act so high and mighty, but look at what he’s done.”
It’s like they leave us no room for error. Because we profess to be believers, we aren’t allowed to screw up. And when we do, our sincerity is called into question.
NO ONE – believer or not – is perfect. We were all born with a propensity to sin. We’re all weak. And just because a believer falls short of the glory of God, DOESN’T mean we are hypocrites. It’s just means we’re human.
And as Christians, we can help close the gap by not looking down our noses at non-believers and judging them for the same sins that many of us commit. We ALL need to remember that we’re ALL human, and since only One person has ever been flawless, we have to strive to be like Him but realize we’re going to fall short.
Yep. But to be honest I have never met a non-Christian that held a Christian to that level of perfectionism. My experience has been that it was other Christians that tend to be judgmental and not non believers.
Feel free to disagree anytime Chrissy. I didn’t write the article but thought it would be a great discussion starter.
I am not Christain…I believe that each of us will get to being their Highest Self when it is our time to do so. We cant hurry the growing of a sapling into a Tree. It requires its Time to do so. So my effort every moment is to remind myself to not interfere in another’s growth with my perceptions, ideas of what is right or wrong, beliefs, judgment or preaching, instead I try to Listen as much as I can as compassionately as I can(I dont always succeed). In Hindu practise its one of the ways to practise Daya/Karuna and in Buddhist practise its called Mindful Listening. When each of us look within, in a state of peace, we know what needs to be done.
P. S. as I am comment, I am going against this tenet, cause in a subtle way, I am giving you my Belief.
MySoul,
I respect your comments here on this discussion. I am always interested in learning from others especially when I don’t understand something. My curiosity allows me to learn in order to better relate to others, so I hope you will forgive my question if it is stated incorrectly:
How is it you came to believe the way you did unless someone taught you (thus ‘preaching’ or ‘teaching beliefs’ to you) which would have instituted interference with your growth?
I loved that you used the sapling into a tree analogy because if we look at the process of its growth, it is always being interfered with and interfering with other organisms around it.
A tree drops its fruit to the ground which causes interference when the seed takes root. Rain and sun interfere upon the seed in order that it may grow into the sapling. Bees interfere with the tree’s blossoms in order that it can bear fruit.
Maybe in my way of thinking, interference (or community) is necessary for an organism to grow. The sapling would never exist in isolation and would never bear fruit or create progeny without interference in both directions.
Yes, I was Taught as I was growing up, to believe in things the way my elders believed. At some point in our growth, we start thinking and perceiving for ourselves, we let go of the preached and teached beliefs that are irrelevant or doesn’t resonate with what we feel, stick with what works for us and interpret events around us quite differently from the way our parents or elders do/did. We grow into being ourselves, and mostly it is unlike what the next person is. I am not devoid of influence from those around me. I differ from those around me in different degrees of sameness and differences.
Organisms do what it is in their nature to do. They interact but do they interfere? I am not sure. Yes, there are a lot of factors that influence a tree’s growth. Can the sun, rain, fruit falling, insects pollinating, be called Interference? Its not like as if the Sun, Rain, insects changed what is their nature to do, to have the tree growing.
It is the property of the Tree to drop its fruit; the property of the seed is to take root, the nature of Rain and Sun is to rain and shine, the nature of bee is to collect pollen and nectar. They are all doing what it is in their nature to do. They don’t say something contrary to what they do. That is what Humans usually do.
Community is necessary. There is no doubt about that. Everything in our Universe and beyond is interconnected. We will be influenced by all that is around us and be affected by what happens to anything anywhere, even if we are unware of it. We don’t exist in Isolation…Non-interference doesn’t mean isolation, it means Letting Be, Allowing the others to Be in their state of being, Accepting the differences without needing/expecting others to be images of ourselves.
I think the Point that Pete was trying to make, was the gap between the Saying and the Doing (wrt believers and non-believers), the lacking in authenticity, the hypocrisy with we tend to live out and what we are doing to avoid it.
A Question is just a Question. So there is nothing to be Forgiven
. Thank you for making(influencing) me put a voice to my thoughts.
I have enjoyed reading your response and will be thinking through your comments.
I agree with much of what you have stated in the area of the animal/plant kingdoms being and doing what they are designed to do. An apple tree can only be an apple tree as it cannot decide to make itself appear to be some other thing. As is the case with a honey bee.
A tree nor a honey bee has the ability or the need to instruct its progeny on how to be a good tree or bee. And so, left to their design they will continue to foster more bees and trees that are bent on their natural design.
It may be there that we have to make a distinction between humanity and the rest of creation.
I am still thinking through this so I don’t have a ready response but I will return when I have had a moment to think on this more.
Again, I appreciate your comments.
Prayin for mysoul and My Soul, great can of worms to consider.
one word sums it all. grace.
A Pharisee was a person who elevated a certain application of Scripture to being as important as Scripture. It would be like taking a sermon and making it the literal word of God.
In the case of making my application of Scripture to have the same authority as Scripture, I’m probably guilty. But when I realize that’s what I’m doing, it seems easier to see life through God’s grace rather than my law.
Great definition Brian.
Adam’s article was great, and it opened a door with one of my best friends, who is an unbeliever. I’m thankful for writers who aren’t afraid to be open and honest about what Christianity is, and what it shouldn’t be.
WHen I mess up in front of my children (when they were young or even now as they are grown) I simply say, “Will you forgive me? I was wrong.”
Actually, I’ve yet to find anyone, Christian, non-Christian, young or old, who doesn’t appreciate the honesty..at the very least, and usually, they have no trouble forgiving. There’s always a few, of course, who are hard-nosed, but I still think deep down, it is appreciated.
I can not make excuses for my crappy behavior. I don’t have to say, “I’m not perfect, just forgiven.” I don’t have to say, “God is bigger than my mistakes.”
I can just say, “I’m sorry I screwed up.” That’s all people want to hear. When I stop hiding behind God, that’s a good thing.
Hypocrisy is a painful reality. I know what I’m supposed to do/be, and yet I often do/am the very thing I don’t want to do/be. That’s why I cling to God’s grace…every single day.
To answer your question: For myself, it is all about the law of love (at least, striving to live it out). Romans 12:9, 13:8&10 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillement of the law.”
Remain teachable.
I used to be very dogmatic, legalistic, and alot of other “ics” that now make me sick.
I think if God did not free me when he did I would have become so set in my ways that it would be hard for me to recover without a definite miracle from God. I think those who are no longer teachable are the one’s that continuously set themselves up to create environments where they are susceptible to hypocrisy (and then deny their failures), whereas if they were not so set in their ways (opinions), they may be more apt to make adjustments in their life that though hypocrisy is inevitable, they don’t become pious in it. I think the key is understanding just how broken “I” am, it changes my perspective on how broken I think “You” are.
I’ve found “teachability” to be a huge bridge builder as well.
I start every day proclaiming “God, today I’m going to do your will.” I rarely make it out the door before becoming a hypocrite. Like the apostle Paul, I’m a failure. I know what’s right, I want to do what’s right, but I keep doing what’s wrong.
So, how do we stop looking hypocritical? I don’t think we should. Sure we should stop being judgmental of everyone, but that doesn’t mean we should deny the truth. You can hate the sin if you want, but what Satan really doesn’t want you to do is love the sinner. Love your brother, no matter what he believes, no matter what he thinks of you. I’m a hypocrite. I failed today. I’m sure I’ll fail tomorrow. My daily walk never lives up to the title “Christian”. But that won’t stop me from believing. I’m not perfect, that’s why I need Christ. I won’t stop trying to be Christ-like, even though I know I will not be perfect on this earth, and in a world. But I won’t stop running the race. Failure only occurs when you stop trying.
Go first… as we’ve seen you do many times, Pete. Thank you for patterning this for us.
When others are transparent in their struggle with sin, it encourages me to examine my own life.
Live with authenticity.
The Greek word that is translated as hypocrite in the New Testament is the word for “play-actor”. It is someone who deliberately tries to deceive. I studied acting for 3 years in college before going to Bible college to become a pastor. Actors pretend to be someone that they are not. I think that people tend to be idealists more than hypocrites. When we try to deceive others for our own glory and the admiration of others, then we are hypocritical Pharisees. When we fail to remove the planks from our eyes while focusing on the specks of others, I believe that we are merely acting human.
This message has been the theme of my week so far. I think the change starts with us as individuals. If we can only go back to Hebrews 4 and 5 to observe that most of our hypocrisy stems from dwelling on milk (concepts that don’t compare to the bigger purpose of the kingdom, which is salvation), then that would be the beginning of a lack of judgment of others. The main commandment of God is to LOVE others, and love that is not condemning transforms lives.
humility.
That goes a long way with everyone doesn’t it James.
I experienced that people view Christians as people who think they are better than others – and also I encounter Christians who deliberately create this gap because they are not humble. They actually DO think they are ‘better’ than others or have to just mingle with other Christians.
We just had this issue concerning the kindergarten for my two little ones. We first went to a Christian kindergarten where I got more or less critisized for sending my oldest daughter to an independent alternative school which is run and situated in an esoteric community. The school is wonderful, and the teachers are human beings just like me. But in the eye of the Christian kindergarten staff they are sinners and also a threat because of their different believes.
I don’t want to create a gap like that. Jesus wouldn’t have done that.
I love that my kids love God and tell other non-believing kids about it in their innocent way. No intention of wanting to convert anyone – just living out their own faith. That’s my goal – and I am still learning myself.
I am no better than any other human being. I stumble, I fall, I cry, I sin.
Who am I to judge anyone?
I watched the documentary “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers” last night. Great documentary on this exact subject.
One thing we can do is consciously give; small things every day. If you make a point to stop and think “I am giving this note with love”, it goes a long way.
I am currently taking part in the 29 Days of Giving Challenge, it’s amazing to see what happens.
http://www.29gifts.org/