Integrity: Dealing with Christian Hypocrisy
Notes
Transcript
proposition: Every believer can avoid hypocrisy
Response: by manifesting three attributes of God’s character
Attention Getter:
Are you tired of Christians being called hypocrites?
Then quit giving them a reason.
Introduction
I wish I could tell this story about myself, but unfortunately I cannot. A good friend of mine is the best example of a Christian I know. He is completely sold out for Christ, everything he does is either to spread the gospel or grow in his own relationship with Christ.
He is retired, living on a tight fixed income, but travels all over the state of Montana, on his own dime, visiting and staying in touch with those he has ministered to in prison. He helps them continue to grow in Christ as they transition back into life outside of prison. Everything he has is used in some way or another to build God’s kingdom in a selfless manner that exudes Christ to all who meet him.
When he goes fishing or hunting he takes his Bible and as he sits there somewhat watching his fishing pole for a bite or the area around him for game he pulls out his Bible and begins to read, pray, and meditate on the word.
If Chuck tells you he will do something it is almost assured he will do it. Granted we are all human and he is not perfect, but, in the 7 years I have known him, all the times I have asked for his help I can count on one hand, with few fingers left on it, the times he has called and said he couldn’t make it. If he did call the reason for him not being there has always been a very legitimate reason. I wish I could say the same thing in the times I have said I would do something for him. I would need to take my shoes off plus borrow your fingers and toes to count the times I have let him down on my commitments. Something I am not proud to admit.
What’s more is he talks about what it means to be a Christian to everyone he meets and then lives it out so consistently that they know he truly believes and trusts in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I don’t know how many people he has led to Christ, how many Christians he has lifted up in times of need or discipled to maturity. I know the number is very large and I know he considers himself blessed and glorifies God through it all.
How many times do we talk the talk but not walk the walk?
We all have a tendency to tell people what a Christian is, how they need to repent of their sins, and believe in Christ. To only turn around and not live how we tell them a Christian is supposed to live. In fact you would not know most Christians are Christians if you ran into them outside of church or a church function. They act no different than the rest of the world! You couldn’t epitomize hypocrite any better than that?
I mean seriously look at the definition.
Hypocrite:
a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
a person whose actions belie stated beliefs
It’s no wonder the world thinks Christians are hypocrites!!
We can all avoid hypocrisy by manifesting three attributes of God’s character.
If you have your Bibles I’ll be in Acts 4:32-5:11
God’s Attribute of Honesty
God’s Attribute of Honesty
Honesty demands a high level of intimacy. Just think about a time you may have done something you didn’t want to be honest about.
Maybe there is something you’re hording onto right now because you don’t want to tell anybody about it.
Maybe it’s some sin that you don’t want to admit to or maybe God has called you to do something you don’t want to do.
In order to come clean and be honest about it to anyone, the intimacy in that relationship has to be so strong that trust is never doubted.
That trust should be placed in Jesus not in the world and our actions should always reflect God’s character.
Let’s look at some examples from Scripture.
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Luke introduces Barnabas and displays his Godly character. That character is starkly contrasted by the character of Ananias and Sapphira.
Unlike Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira conspired to keep for themselves.
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Keeping back in itself was not the issue. They lied about how much they sold the property for, possibly to make it look like they were giving more for the community than they actually were.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
Sapphira also lied about their conspired plot.
8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”
Ananias and Sapphira could have come clean and displayed God’s attribute of honesty, but instead they chose to try and hide their sin from everyone.
Why would they lie about this? Was the embarrassment to much to bear? Were they so proud that they thought they were above God’s per-view?
We can deceive the people around us, but how easily do we forget as humans that we are unable to deceive God.
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
God knows our hearts so we can’t deceive Him. Our deeds are judged by the condition of our heart not the outward appearance of what we’ve done. If we are deceitful to others around us the condition of our heart does not bear fruit.
What we do for the church and the community is not judged by how much of ourselves we give as much as why we give.
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
A look at this text gives us some insight to the context of the scenario. The land was their own and after they sold the land the proceeds from the purchase was their own to dispose of as they see fit.
In other words they did not have to give all of the proceeds to the apostles for the community and that was not their lie. Their lie was that they claimed to have sold the property for less money than they did and claimed to have given all those proceeds to the community.
There was a time in my life, before I became a Christian, where I was very much like Ananias and Sapphira. I didn’t believe people would like me for the person I was and so I would embellish stories or tell lies about myself to try and make myself look better to everyone around me. My lies were always built around a grain of the truth so it was very difficult to decipher where the truth ended and the lies began.
I thought I was deceiving people, but in all reality most people saw through my lies and the only person I deceived was myself. I did not have many friends and could not get very many people to come help me if I needed help and very seldom would anyone ask me to come help them something I desperately wanted them to ask of me.
I can tell you I’m glad that lonely part of my life is over and I see the truth in God’s word. Honesty about yourself and the things you’re a part of is way more attractive than any embellished story we could ever dream up. That attractiveness opens us up to be more available to help those around us.
God’s Attribute of Hospitality
God’s Attribute of Hospitality
We get so caught up in hospitality for all the wrong reasons. Our current culture looks at hospitality as an opportunity to entertain and capitalize for our own personal gain.
Unfortunately there are those in the church who have a tendency to entertain in the name of hospitality. In some cases they to try and buy power over church decisions.
While doing research for this sermon I found this great quote.
God's attribute of hospitality which is evidenced in the OT and in the ministry of Jesus culminates in the invitation to all of us to the wedding supper of the Lamb.
-Pastor Kelvin Jones
That got me thinking do we follow the commandments and the great commission with the heart of Jesus?
Does our selflessness hospitality lead as many people as possible to an invitation to the wedding supper of the Lamb?
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
Like today all the Christians in the community still owned their own property, had their own jobs, had their own individual lives. But they considered everything that belonged to them not as their own, what they had was to be used for the community as a whole.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
This does not mean that they had some sort of perfect socialist society where the rich among them gave so the poor had equality. Nor does it mean that the church became the owner of the property and belongings of all who were believers.
When people had needs those who were capable gave to the apostles to be distributed to the places of need. It is important here to recognize the heart of the person giving in hospitality. As Barnabas gave with full honesty and selfless, caring love for those in need, Ananias and Sapphira gave with a dishonest heart to impress with their gifts.
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Hospitality and Entertaining
The following differentiation between “hospitality” and “entertaining” was made by Karen Mains in Open Heart, Open Home (Elgin, Ill.: Cook, 1976):
Entertaining says, “I want to impress you with my home, my clever decorating, my cooking.” Hospitality, seeking to minister, says, “This home is a gift from my Master. I use it as He desires.” Hospitality aims to serve.
Entertaining puts things before people. “As soon as I get the house finished, the living room decorated, my housecleaning done—then I will start inviting people. Hospitality puts people first. “No furniture—we’ll eat on the floor!” “The decorating may never get done—you come anyway.” “The house is a mess—but you are friends—come home with us.”
Entertaining subtly declares, “This home is mine, an expression of my personality. Look, please, and admire.” Hospitality whispers, “What is mine is yours.”
Jesus said He died so that He may prepare a place for us. God selflessly gave all so that we, in our deprived and helpless state, may have a relationship with Him.
Jesus showed hospitality with a heart that loved God (obedience on the cross) and loved His neighbors, that’s you and me, so that we may have an invitation to His wedding feast.
Does your hospitality come from a heart that loves God and loves others or does it come from a heart that says look and admire.
God’s attribute of Self-Denial
God’s attribute of Self-Denial
If we are just entertaining and not truly being hospitable we are not exercising God’s attribute of self-denial.
The Dictionary of Bible Themes gives this definition of Self-Denial.
The willingness to deny oneself possessions or status, in order to grow in holiness and commitment to God.
This is a great definition and fits well with what Jesus says in:
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
But what does that mean how are we supposed to deny ourselves? In verse 32 we read earlier, it says, “and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own” although it still belonged to them it was to be used for building God’s kingdom. Everything was for Jesus Christ not for their own prominence.
Be humble in our dealings with others and allow the love of Christ to be the motivation for everything we do.
If we compare verse 4:34 where they “bring the proceeds for the use of the needy” to verse 5:2 “kept back some for themselves” and understand the personal greed in keeping back some for themselves. We understand the dishonesty of wanting to be prominent in the eyes of the community instead of the full self-sacrifice for the good of others.
Paul says,
1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Be examples to others, not for our own pleasure or good, but for their good. This is a great application to stop giving a reason to be called hypocrites.
Peter explains how this is to be done.
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
The church is called to be an example to the world of what Christ has done for the world. Denying self is giving up the things we cherish most. Acting different than the rest of the world.
What do you do that would not differentiate you from the rest of the world. Do your eyes linger for a little too long on members of the opposite sex in public places?
Do you drink a little more than you should at the local bar? Do you live a lavished lifestyle that causes others to admire and covet what you have? Do you drive by people stranded on the road instead of stopping to help out you drive right on by?
Do you look at the homeless with distaste or disgust instead of a sympathetic caring heart to help?
Do you despise the woman who chooses to have an abortion instead of having Christ’s love for her that tries to build a relationship that can lead to better decisions?
Do you give your spare time to helping others in need or to entertain yourself. What do you do with your hobby? Do you use it in a way that it helps others or is it just for your own satisfaction?
Self-denial does not mean we can’t enjoy our own lives or what God blesses us with, but it does mean we use those blessings to bless others.
I had a conversation with a friend one time about tithing. He explained how hard he worked and how what he earned through that hard work belonged to him. He said that everything he had he deserved because he worked so hard to earn it and he would only give it up unless he got something in return.
Now mind you this is a Christian man who believed his ability to do hard work and the things he had were a blessing from God. I pointed out that all things we have belong to God and what he blesses us with are meant to be used for His good by blessing others. At the end of the conversation he said to me and I quote him with his permission, “I can’t believe how I have been so selfish when there are so many people in this community that need help.”
About six months later he came up to me and said he couldn’t believe how much more blessed he was when he started helping those in need. He said I honestly think God has blessed me so much more.
He talked about how great it felt to see others receiving things they need and how they in return would use that little blessing to help others around them.
My friend realized that self-denial of the things he thought he deserved, the things he cherished most, yeah they may have been a blessing, but when that blessing was used to bless others he himself was blessed so much more. He discovered that the thing he cherished most was the love of Christ!!
Conclusion
We can all avoid hypocrisy by manifesting three attributes of God’s character.
Honesty
Hospitality
Self-Denial
It is time to stop being part of the reason the world calls Christians hypocrites and start being the reason they want what we have ,CHRIST!!!
Are you hiding anything you don’t want anyone to know about? It could be a sin or it could be some ministry God wants you to do. It may be feeling guilty because you don’t feel like you tithe enough or don’t do enough to serve. There are many things we could be holding on to and they can be resolved by doing what we are supposed to do be honest with ourselves and others.
How is your hospitality working with that honesty. Do you allow everything God has given you to be used for God’s purposes or do you want to keep it for yourself. Maybe you allow some of it to be used so you can entertain and let people see what you have and admire it.
If that is you, do you feel good about causing others to covet what you have and fall into sin?
How about self-denial? That goes especially well with hospitality and how we treat others. Are you denying yourself and not hording what God has blessed you with?
How about denying your judgmental feelings about someone in need and loving them through lasting help and support?
If we don’t want to be called hypocrites, then we must be a reason people want what we have, and come to Christ. We have to deny those judgmental feelings, let go of the things we horde to help those in need, and most of all be honest about who we are and what we have in Christ.
We are called hypocrites because we tell people about how great God is and how when we come to Him he transforms our lives, but they see us living just like them, a life not transformed.
We don’t have to be rich or have an abundance of things to help others in need. We all have time we can give to others or a gift we can use to help them.
Those who are good at building things can help people by building storage sheds or helping with remodels.
Those who are good at accounting can help people who don’t understand how to balance their checkbooks or how to save money on a tight budget.
Those who are good with computers can help train others with computers.
I know you’re all going Oh Lord!! Stop him now he’s going to list everything under the sun.
You get the picture there are many ways we can find to help people in need and we should be at the forefront of this instead of talking about it and watching secular people fill that void. Because if we get in the front lines it gives us a window to share the gospel, which the secular world will never do, and we stop being called hypocrites.
Sharing the gospel through selfless loving hospitality with honesty builds up those in Christ who are in need and builds God’s kingdom in the community by bringing people to Christ.
Are you tired of the world calling Christians hypocrites?
Good, what are you going to do about it?
Are you going to continue to be the reason or are you going to manifest these attributes of God’s character and be part of the solution?
Prayer
Prayer
Lord let us be more like you, give us a heart of honesty that desires selfless hospitality. Search our hearts and root out the things we keep back as we meditate on your word every day. Transform us from the inside out so we manifest your loving attributes of honesty, hospitality, and self-denial. Lord, I know that sounds easy, but we find it so hard in our selfish humanity. Help us to lean on you and trust in your promises so that we may become more like you every day. In Jesus Mighty name I pray. Amen!
