~Wayne Jacobsen~
It's one of the biggest criticisms I've heard of we christians. That we're nothing more than holier than thou hypocrites. I might just take offense to this observation, had I not experienced it for myself from time to time. Have I not exhibited myself from time to time. Sadly many a christian at times lives under the false belief that living under our heavenly Fathers love, grace and forgiveness often gives us carte blanche to behave badly. Think about it, if we are to somehow fall again into sin, not only are we forgiven, but we serve a God who has infinate love and grace for His children. Some see this as a green light for all sorts of bad behaviors. Unfortunately, I've experienced this very side of christianity quite often. Even more unfortnate is that I've dabbled in this hypocracy myself. Knowing this, how could I blame others for seeing this hypocracy within christianity and thereby be appalled by it? As I said, I've experienced this hypocracy personally and I came away from those experiences feeling belittled and brow beaten, NOT a good feeling at all. Now, I totally get it that we are to be Gods representatives here on earth, but just what kind of God are we exhibiting to those around us? Do we show others that God of the old testament who dealt harshly with His people in their disobedience, or do we exhibit the true love of Christ who is in us today {Galations 2:20}? I believe that the all too familiar "What would Jesus do?" craze of not so long ago was a direct result of this issue. Someone may have seen a christian behaving badly and therefore wondered, what would Jesus do? I've thought that very same thing.
1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; aand he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died band rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14: 1 - 10 NKJV
A good friend of mine once commented that he was not at all surprised that others would see the hypocracy of christianity, as christianity is indeed filled with those who often follow their flesh instead of Gods leading. Actually, the very word and notion of christianity is not a creation of God but of man. In fact, early believers were given the name "Followers of the way." As with this nickname for the early followers of Christ, such is our term christianity. And so, we describe ourselves with a term we ourselves have created. Not only that, but we worship our Lord with an institution which we've created. For the examples we see of the early church of the followers of Christ was not a church at all, but simply a gathering of those who followed the teachings of jesus. That's right, no ornate building, no rock and roll worship band and certainly no pulpit pounder sermon. They simply gathered to share their belief,experiences and life together. THIS is true worship. THIS is true christianity.
So, who is that God that we ourselves show to others? Christ Himself called His followers to be a light to the world around them {Matthew 5: 11-12}. This is what happens when He who is within us is manifested through all that we do. For when others see us, they are seeing the image of the invisible God. This is Christ Jesus, and it is He who is in us. When we truly exhibit Christ who is within us, there is no room for the bad behaviors of christian hypocracy.
14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5: 14 - 16 NKJV
~Scott~
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