Church

Intro

Start with a recap of where we have come so far:

Church is a hospital (we go back for healing even if we got sick)

Church is a community (we find spiritual connection even if we were lonely)

Church is a team (we accomplish more together even if we had been divided)

Today we will be talking about hypocrisy; what happens when the place designed for holiness becomes hypocritical?

Hypocrisy is simply saying/believing one thing and doing another

It is perhaps the most dangerous of all church imperfections

It erodes authenticity and trust; leads people to leave the church and leave the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Does this mean the church is called to be perfect? Of course not; the church is a hospital; we are all imperfect

We are made new in Christ! Yet this transformation is not about us being perfect so much as our being made perfect

Holiness isn’t about being a finished product; it is a process

Cf. 2 Corinthians 7:1.

This process is not necessarily a straight line; there will be times when we will act hypocritically in the process of being made holy

How is hypocricy different than our imperfect quest for holiness?

We need to dive deeper into how Jesus confronted religious hypocrisy, and what he saw were the root causes that needed to be brought to light

Pray

Hypocrisy vs. Holiness

Hypocrisy is focused on self; holiness is focused on others

Focused on self (cf. Matthew 23:1 - 4)

Pharisees used their authority to lay burdens on others and reaped the rewards themselves

Burdens = extra “rules” around the Law

Rewards = Continued power and authority over the Jewish people

At the core, hypocrisy is self-centred

When our actions are dictated by what serves us in any given situation, that reveals a hypocritical heart

Talk about Mike being a social chameleon; “JF” and not being at SYATP

Focused on others (preamble: explain Jesus’ washing disciples’ feet: John 13:12-15)

Jesus reveals a new order for religious leaders: serve others instead of requiring them to serve you

This was counter-cultural and difficult for the disciples to accept

The heart of holiness is turned towards others; what serves others in a given situation? What eases their burden instead of adding to it?

Pastoral training advice: Never ask anyone to do something you would be unwilling to do… except nursery, right?!

Hypocrisy is focused on the kingdom of earth; holiness is focused on the kingdom of heaven

Focused on earth (cf. Matthew 23:13-15)

The religious leaders were determined to make the Jewish religion perfect today; in this world; the best earthly religion possible

But in the process, they had lost sight of the eternal kingdom of heaven and what REALLY matters

It isn’t about how much theology you know, or how many rules you keep or how “pure” your group can be… the kingdom of heaven looks different

Focused on heaven (Matthew 19:13-14)

You can see the tension; earthly religous propriety would tell them to keep the children away from Jesus

But Jesus says not only are they allowed, but the kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

Our journey of holiness calls us into a child-like faith

Simple trust, simple refuge, simple rest

Like a sick child simply needing to be held

Our church priorites must reflect what will continue past this temporary expression and into eternity

Won’t be our programs, ministries, budgets, buildings, well-crafted services, worship music, etc.

It will be our desire to see all people come to Jesus in child-like faith; even if it goes “against the flow” of the religious norms

Refer to the excerise of acceptance led by Andy W.

Hypocrisy is focused on the action; holiness is focused on the heart

Focused on the action (cf. Matthew 23:23-24)

Tithing on herbs was an absurd detail revealing legalism

Meanwhile, the heart of the Law was being ignored! (Described by Jesus as justice and mercy and faithfulness)

In other words, they were so busy keeping the rules that they forgot why those rules exist in the first place

This is the danger of legalism in religion; we are good at keeping rules and displaying what we should NOT do:

Don’t get drunk! Don’t have sex before marriage! Don’t gossip!

But are we so strict that we forget why those “rules” are there in the first place?

Don’t get drunk, but instead BE FILLED with the HS; Don’t have sex before marriage, but instead pursue intamcy in the COVENANT of marriage; Don’t gossip, but invest in the UNITY of the church

We can keep all the rules and still be cold towards the Spirit, have a breakdown in our marriage and disregard the unity of the church

Focused on the heart (cf. Matthew 12:1-8)

Jesus gives a similar response to when confronted while eating with sinners and tax collectors: He quotes Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

It is NOT about keeping the rules, it is about cultivating a relationship with God that is highlighted by steadfast and loyal love

And out of that relationship our obedience should be evident (holiness)

Hypocrisy is focused on the outside; holiness is focused on the inside

Focused on the outside (cf. Matthew 23:25-27)

It is all about keeping appearances (clean outside of cup; whitewashed tombs)

Explain the practice of whitewashing tombs to mark uncleanness

Talk about not wanting to accidentally serve someone coffee in a dirty mug

It is a real temptation to put on a church mask and keep up appearances

This isn’t what Jesus wants! This isn’t what the church needs! This isn’t part of our journey of holiness

Focused on the inside (2 Corinthians 7:1)

We are being cleansed inside and out; body and spirit

This means that Jesus needs to do his transforming work at the core of who we are, and that needs to pervade other areas of our life

Jesus drills this into his followers during the Sermon on the Mount

Don’t just avoid adultery (outside), but avoid lustful thoughts (inside)

Don’t just avoid murder (outside), but avoid living in anger (inside)

Of course, we can’t do the deep transformational work on the inside on our own....

Holiness and the Church

Holiness is a process of Jesus’ work in our lives (Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”)

Holiness is designed to be completed in the church

(Hebrews 10:22 - 25)

We are called to “stir up one another to love and good works”

In other words, we spur each other on in the journey of holiness

Like a racer being cheered toward the finish line (Eli and cross country)

(James 5:16)

We are called to confess - not only to God - but to one another

God knows that strict personal confessions never bring our sin and shame out of the darkness into the light (repeated cycle)

We are designed to confess to one another as a way of brining sin and shame into the light and seeking freedom (healing) from it

If there is one way we can embrace holiness and resist hypocrisy, it is to be a confessing church

I’m not going to set up a confessional booth here… but find someone to confide in

Use this opportunity to talk about Discipleship Groups

Conclusion

Hypocrisy and holiness matters… to the rest of the world

People are watching; they will not see perfection, but they can see imperfect people

Focused on others; on the kingdom of heaven; on the spirit behind the rules; and on the inside

Today is a great time to give church a second chance, and live out your own journey of holiness by being spurred on and finding a safe place to confess

Pray