Wow, I haven't written in a very long time. I promise to change that! Ive been busy lately, you know, having a newborn can take up a lot of your time! But, thats gonna change! I miss writing and jotting down my thoughts, so I shall continue!
Today I was talking with a good friend of mine about Christians, the Church, and how hypocrisy runs rampant in both. We compared examples and eventually he asked me, essentially, how I can affiliate myself with such a group thats full of hypocrites? It was an interesting question, but ultimately I don't consider myself a Christian; I am simply someone who loves Jesus and I try the best I can to love everyone else. But, what I tried to explain is that, even though the Church and Christianity are full of hypocrites, you shouldn't let that keep you from Jesus. Like my friend, I have met and talked with a lot of people who have rejected Jesus and Christianity because of the blatant hypocrisy of the church; Pastors who are phony, empty and hollow.
And you know what? They're right. Now, before you freak out at my response there, keep reading.
They are right. There is way to much hypocrisy in the church. And there always has been. But, its not like its being condoned. For every hypocrite there are 20+ more men and women of integrity in the Church that cry out against hypocrisy.
And since when do you let hypocrisy determine your participation or affiliation with anything? We all have heard about all the crazy Doctors that are out there… but has that kept you from going to a Doctor when you're sick? How about all the reports from hamburger meat that had e. coli? Bet you still eat burgers. Despite all the hypocrisy in the government, you still live here, why? Because despite the hypocrisy, America is the best place to live. Period. Even if you abandon Christianity all together, what faith would you turn to where no hypocrisy exists? You think there are no hypocritical Hindus? Muslims? Buddhists? Every belief system has hypocrites that give their respective religion a bad image in some form or fashion.
What you have to remember is that its not our job to bother with the hypocrites, thats God's job (Matthew 24:51). Whatever they do in their life is between them and God, and God will sort it out when its their time. Im not saying its easy to look past them, I know its not. But the Church is not perfect because NOBODY is perfect. But Jesus is. Keep you sights set on Him.
"We all either try to hide our bad sides or we try to make them look good. But deep inside we all know that we fall short of living the way we know we should. No one can escape the charge of “hypocrite”—no one except Jesus Himself. He is the only One who has lived up to God's standards; the only One who has perfectly lived what He preached. Only through Christ can we escape the penalty due our hypocrisy… By living within the security of Christ' Love, we are free to peel off masks and to become real, honest people."
- Cliff Knechtle
