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FAQ #1

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are Christians such a bunch of hypocrites?

So, everyone else in the world is not a hypocrite?

Christians are not unique to the world of hypocrisy and also are not immune to its influence. But it is not correct to classify "all" Christians under the term as if that is what comprises their definition.

Christians are people, just like everyone else. But the difference is that the true Christian has been apprised of his failures and is being conformed and molded, by a continuing process, into a likeness of Jesus Christ. The Christian is not a perfect person, and never will be in this life, but wishes to attain to a position whereby the nature and work of Jesus Christ can be seen through them. However, because of the weakness of human nature, the attainment of the goals is not always accomplished and the nature of hypocrisy reveals itself in conduct not in line with the profession of belief. This is not an excuse for the behavior, but an explanation as to the weakness of human nature in relation to the standard that is to be attained.

It must be remembered that Jesus Christ reserved His most scathing and severe criticism for the religious hypocrites of His time; the Pharisees who seemed so spiritual and righteous on the outside, but were rotten and self-centered on the inside. So, when true hypocrisy is revealed in the life of a Christian, it is a very serious matter.

This revealing of hypocrisy in the life of the Christian is a consequence of the continuing quest of the Christian toward the spiritual goals that are set before them in the Bible. Reaching for the goal is the method of the process, but in failure to attain the goal, hypocrisy is revealed if the person claims to have achieved but actions do not confirm the reality.

However, a false standard must not be applied. Simply having not achieved the goal is not sufficient reason to presume that a Christian is hypocritical in conduct. Hypocrisy is defined as actions or attitudes presented by a person who knows that they have not achieved, and by those actions and attitudes attempt to deceive others into believing that they have achieved the goal. Hypocrisy is a knowingly instituted act of deception. Christians who have simply not achieved the goals inherent in their beliefs cannot be classified as hypocritical unless they deliberately attempt to give the impression that they are closer to, or have achieved the final goal when they have not actually done so.

Many times, the non-Christian claims a higher goal for the Christian than for themselves, holding the life of Jesus Christ as the criteria for the Christian, when they reject the teaching and claim of Jesus Christ over their own lives. Through this worldly view, the non-Christian looks at the claim of hypocrisy in others in order to justify the hypocrisy and failures in their own lives, attempting to rationalize their own actions by finding a perceived greater fault in others.

The hypocrisy found in the worldly view, takes many forms, among them the belief that a person will be able to stand in the presence of God based on their own merit or inherent goodness. The reality is that the performance of humanity, based on its own criteria, does not meet the standard of God, which is the perfection revealed in the life of Jesus Christ. The hypocrisy is to presume that a person is worthy, when, in fact, that person is unworthy to enter heaven and the presence of God. However, people continue to act as if they are worthy in the sight of God, when they are not.

The hypocrisy found in the true Christian will lead to embarrassment and a criticism of conduct with which they must deal in relation to God. The hypocrisy practiced by the world will lead to damnation and loss of the soul for eternity.

Which form of hypocrisy is the worst? Hypocrisy in and of itself is equally abhorrent when practiced by the Christian and non-Christian alike. However, the Christian may loose social status and damage their testimony before an unbelieving world, but the non-Christian will loose their soul if they presume to be good enough to stand before God on their own merit.

END OF ARTICLE
by Gary A. Hand
On Doctrine

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
On This Website:
    The Believer And Indwelling Sin - John F. MacArthur
    Gospel Grounds And Evidences Of The Faith Of God's Elect - John Owen
    Marks Of A True Conversion - George Whitefield

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