WWJUNDO? Hypocrisy

Introduction (Recap)

Story of Hypocrisy

One of the biggest issues non-believers have with Christians is hypocrisy

We often hear I don’t go to Church because

Someone hurt me there

Someone lied to me there

Someone There did___

I remember a song from a DC TALK album back in 1995 had a song called “What If I Stumble” and the song started with a quote from Brennan Manning

“The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny him with their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

· Hypocrisy is not the disparity between what we do and what we wish we did.

I wish I would pray more, but I don’t

I wish I did have bad thought, but I still do

I wish I wouldn’t eat a whole 1/2 sheet cake, but I still do

Hypocrisy is the gap between what we show and who we are.

How we live and how we live

I tell people that I pray a lot, but only pray a little bit

I tell people that all my thoughts are pure and good, but I still have bad thoughts.

I tell people that I eat very healthy and nothing bad , and I am still eating a whole 1/2 of cake.

Last week we looked at the Greek word for Hypocrite and it was (Hypo-cree-toss) and it meant actor.

In ancient Greek these actors would where masks

Masks served several important purposes they would exaggerate expressions and helped define the characters they were playing; they allowed actors to play more than one role (or gender)

They used the masks to show emotions that they were trying to portray.

So what mask are we putting on?

Titus 1:16 NIV

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

The Pharisees were masters of this attitude

They would Give to be seen

They would let everyone know that they were fasting

They would pray for others to hear

Criticizing others/ to make them look better

Jesus never spoke more harshly than to hypocrites

Matthew 23:27–28 NIV

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Matthew 23:33 NIV

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

They wanted to look good, while being dirty on the inside

They wanted to make people think that they were righteous while hiding vices that they had problems

Jesus didn’t say

“Woe” to you

who sometimes say cuss words

sometimes watch a movie that might not be so great

listen to music that might contain not so great content

Who do bad things

HE Said Woe to you who do those things and act like you don’t.

Social media highlights this issue, but is not limited to social media

Social media shows our highlight reel we see the best

but we do this also in our life too

I doing great

but I’m broken

My marriage is amazing

but you both are frustrated and struggling

My kids are perfect little angles

they are struggling and always in trouble

I’m always at Church and I make sure everyone knows it

But I’m not even trying to follow Christ

I’m not talking about if you are seeking or struggling with something, but if you are actively making your self look good trying to make people believe you are one way and are a complete other way.

Jesus had no tolerance of hypocrisy

but He has unlimited grace for sinners in need of forgiveness

If this is something that you struggle with, There is Hope.

Matthew 23:25–26 NIV

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

We all have faults and we do not like those faults exposed

Story about Hayden

It wasn’t until I talked to someone about what was going on was I able to come back to a healthy relationship with Christ

Proverbs 28:13 NIV

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

You are only as strong as you are honest

You read your Bible on your phone

You look at things that you shouldn’t be

You tell your spouse you love them

you hit on people when they are not around

You act holy at Church

you would never know you loved Jesus outside of here

You show a great marriage

you are sleeping in different beds and the words I Love You haven’t left your mouth in a very long time

ITS time to come clean

Confess to God

And to those around you

You have nothing to fear when you have nothing to hide.

Jesus has zero tolerance for hypocrisy

He has unlimited grace for a sinner in need of forgiveness.

Dangerous prayer

Psalm 139:23–24 NIV

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Hypocrisy is the gap of what we show people and who we really are

We cant do this through being perfect

we close these gaps with Jesus

Its time we stop trying to be a good Christian by doing things we think we should do, or by lying to others , we are not good

its time we spend time with Jesus, the one who is Good