Are All Christians Hypocrites?

One common reason some people give for not attending church or more importantly pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ is that "too many hypocrites are in church." And the church says, "Amen." It goes without saying that if Christians preach love and forgiveness, we should live what we preach. Unfortunately, there are many of us as professing Christians who fail miserably. However, can you identify one person in this whole world, Christian or non-Christian, who in some area of his or her life is not hypocritical?

This therefore begs the question, Are all people hypocrites?

Please do not misunderstand the point I am attempting to make. Under no circumstance will I defend Christians who blatantly and knowingly and even unapologetically portray themselves as hypocrites. However, I would like to submit that even as Christians we are constantly fighting to become more like Jesus. There is a famous saying that "the Lord is not through with me yet." Consider for a while that we are clay in the Potter's hands. Consequently, Christians mess up too and are constantly in need of Jesus' mercies and forgiveness.

Jesus did not mince words when in the Sermon on the Mount He told us - all of us. His message was clear in St. Matthew 6 - "Get that beam out of your eye so you can see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." In simple terms this is what Jesus said - "Man, deal with your own mess before pointing finger at the other guy's mess." It is so easy to see what's wrong with the world, while ignoring our own failures. You know what I am talking about. Right now you're thinking how someone blew it, and you have failed to notice that person who is hurting because of something you said, did or did not do. Yes, You and Me, too.

What is the bottom-line? The Bible declares that salvation is an individual thing. Following Jesus Christ requires having a personal relationship with Him - each man/woman must work out his/her personal salvation with "fear and trembling." Let us not waste time focusing on what the other guy is doing. Yes, we must be our brother's keeper, but not at the expense of missing out on a closer and more fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ.

Sadly enough, some people will miss heaven because of the "many hypocrites" they would have identified in church throughout their lifetime, when they should have acknowledged their own need for salvation and had sought the Lord wholeheartedly.

Now, let's think about that...