The only people Jesus ever accused of being hypocrites, were the religious leaders of His own nation. – Clint Decker
A Florida teenager once made national news after he was arrested for an impersonation stunt. Matthew, an 18-year-old, wormed his way into being a Physician’s Assistant at a local hospital. He had an I.D. badge, the right clothes and was even trusted by a doctor to do CPR on a patient. (Image by freepik)
Matthew was a fake, a pretender or an actor. In a word he was a hypocrite. It is a term often used in religious settings. Perhaps you have heard someone say, “Hey, that church downtown, they preach one thing and do another,” or maybe “I visited the church on main street once. I know many of them, and they’re a bunch of hypocrites,” or perhaps “Religious people are just fakes living by a double standard, that’s why I don’t go to church anywhere.”
Sometimes we can unknowingly associate hypocrites with God when we see sinful things in the lives of professing Christians. Know that it is with great force that God condemns them. Jesus once said, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:5) Another time Jesus directly stated, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matt. 23:25) Jesus also forcefully commented, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…’” (Mark 7:6)
In ancient times, actors and actresses in Greek plays wore masks to portray their characters. They were affectionately known as hypocrites. It was not a demeaning word like it is today but was just a simple term that described their professional craft. According to one source, “Hypocrite refers to a performer acting under a mask,” a “two-faced person,” or “someone who says one thing, but does another.”
The only people Jesus ever accused of being hypocrites, were the religious leaders of His own nation. They studied, were highly trained, considered experts in the Scriptures and bore the responsibility of teaching them to the people. Yet, as a group, they were considered hypocrites in the eyes of Jesus. How? Because they knew better, by teaching at times what they knew was a lie and what they did not practice.
This angered Jesus because of the harmful influence that had. He scolded them saying, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” (Matt. 23:13) Through the influence of their words and life, it was like they were slamming heaven’s door right in front of people’s noses. Jesus did not mince words. He was furious with religious hypocrites. He once told a story about a master that clarified where two-faced religious actors will spend eternity, “[The master] will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:51)
Outside of Jesus’, not too many of us can point fingers on this issue. There is a Bible verse I have prayed for myself many times, “O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me…” (Psalm 69:6) It is only by the grace of God that I am, who I am. The greatest fear of my life is that I will somehow misrepresent God in my teaching or fail Him in my choices, and cause others to reject Him. May God have mercy on me and you, if that shall ever be said of us. Today, by the grace of God, stop being a pretender and start being real.
A prayer for you – Lord God, may the work of your Holy Spirit convict men and women of any hypocrisy in their life. And if there is any, enable them by your power to repent and find mercy at the cross. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The British Empire brought the evil of African slavery to America, but when the Founders separated from the Crown, they began dismantling the institution. – Clint Decker
John Adams was the 2nd President of the United States and signer of the Declaration of Independence. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, he reflected on the founding of America, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” Noah Webster shared similar views. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and also known as the “Schoolmaster to America.” He wrote, “The moral principles and precepts found in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.” (Image from standingforfreedom.com)
When one studies the speeches, diaries, and letters of the Founding Fathers of the United States and does the same for important documents like the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and others, he will see the principles of Christianity and the Scriptures embedded in them. The Founders were intentional with this, because they wanted to have a just and moral foundation for which their new nation would be built on. They knew just laws could provide a restraint on the evil actions of people and promote virtuous conduct.
This began on July 4, 1776. Prior to the date of independence, America’s 13 colonies were bound to the laws of Great Britain and were under the authority of King George. After Independence they were bound to their own laws, which were built on Christian principles. Between 1776 and 1804, according to Wall Builders, “nearly half of the states passed laws to abolish slavery”. Wall Builders also reports that “from 1790 to 1810 the number of free blacks in America increased from 59,466 to 108,395.”
The British Empire brought the evil of slavery to America, but when the Founders separated from the Crown, they began dismantling the institution. Why? Because it was inconsistent with the laws of God. However, only half of the states were for abolishing slavery, while the other half (southern ones), persisted in continuing the evil trade. This illustrates a point, that just because the Founders sought just laws did not mean it automatically created a just and moral people. The law can restrain evil in people, but it cannot eliminate it. This is why among some places in America slavery was held onto tightly, and why some in the government committed atrocities against the Native Americans. And today, this is why millions of women have aborted their babies, and why Jewish students are threatened and abused on some college campuses.
Laws, systems, structures, institutions…they can only go so far, and our Founders knew that. They knew we needed to encounter God personally. This is why from time to time there would be a call for days of prayer and fasting. On May 15, 1776, just weeks before America’s independence came, General George Washington stated, “The Continental Congress having ordered Friday the 17th instant to be observed as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, humbly to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God, that it would please Him to pardon all our manifold sins and transgressions, and to prosper the arms of the United Colonies…”
Our nation needed God in 1776, and we desperately need Him now. Our hearts must be changed to rid our cities of the wickedness displayed in them. And the heart is where the root of our problems lay. Jesus said, “…out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” (Mark, 7:21-22) So many of the vile periods in our history and today, come from these sins. Because of this we deserve the judgement of God. But due to His mercy, He sent His only Son to be our hope. If we as a people, humble ourselves and call upon the Savior of all mankind by faith, then hearts of stone can receive new life.
A prayer for you – Lord God we confess our sins individually and as a nation. We all have sinned and are only deserving of your judgement. Come Lord, humble us this hour I pray. Bring a great and mighty move of your Spirit upon our country that millions would turn to you as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
There has always been a tendency for parents and grandparents to try and swoop in to make things all better. That might be fine for a two-year-old, but when it’s a 20-year-old…that is a problem. – Clint Decker
Dr. Jeffery Bernstein tells the story of Jasper. He was a 26-year-old that could only hold down a job for a few months at a time. His explanations for quitting were “toxic environments”, “unfair management” and other excuses. But each time he quit, his mom would come in for the rescue. Feeling guilty, she would pay his rent to help him get on his feet again. It was a vicious cycle that was not getting Jasper nor his mom anywhere. Bernstein wrote, “If you try to "save" your adult child every time they are in trouble, you may be making things worse in the long run.” (Image by danabehavioralhealth.org)
Since the beginning of time, it seems there has always been a tendency for parents or grandparents to try and swoop in to make things all better. That might be fine for a two-year-old, but when it is still being done for a 20-year-old…that is a problem.
One author says, “Rescuing, also called enabling, happens when a person feels the responsibility to minimize the consequences of someone else’s bad choices.” As a parent, friend or co-worker we need to stop this. How will the people we love become mature, independent, responsible adults if we continually allow their problems to become our problems, that we solve for them.
- Why are you paying your 30-year-old son’s cell phone bill?
- Why are you giving money to a friend who has an addiction, and is likely using it to feed his problem?
- Why do you keep stepping in and contacting your daughter’s teachers or coaches, and making excuses for her?
- Why do you keep putting off having a needed conversation with a friend that keeps taking advantage of you?
When is this going to end? And ultimately, it is about…you. You feel guilty so you rescue. You do not want arguments or accusations, so you step in. The situation might make you look bad, so you fix it.
What does God have to say about this? He wrote, “For each will have to bear his own load.” (Galatians 6:5) Bearing a burden is one thing. In that, we come alongside people and help them carry what is troubling them. However, bearing a load is different. This speaks of personal responsibility, and things someone has to answer to God for. This is about teaching those we love and warning them, but then at some point, stepping back and letting them bear the load of the consequences from their own choices. This means not bailing your son out of jail again but letting him sit there. It means not putting gas in your daughter’s car again, because she did not manage her money well and forcing her to figure things out on her own.
The famous John 3:16 Bible verse speaks on this issue, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God is the ultimate parent here. He commands all people to believe in Jesus, then states what will happen if someone chooses not to…they will perish. This is about boundaries and consequences. We see this throughout the whole Bible.
Lovingly stepping back and choosing to allow someone to fail and experience pain is an unfortunate but necessary teacher. And when we step back, we are allowing someone else to step in…God. It is an act of love and trust. King Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) We should love someone enough to stop trying to rescue them with hopes they might change. God hung the stars. He raises the sun every morning. He provides the sparrow with its food. He can do this. Step back and allow God to work.
A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for the people who are continually rescuing and excusing those they love from bad choices. Help them to see how harmful their actions are. Help them to step back and release their loved one into your hands. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
