Are Christians Becoming Hypocrites?

First things first, are all Christians hipocrites? Absolutely not, but most of them are. I have studied all branches of Christianity and been to more churches, bible groups, retreats, and fellowships than one can imagine, and I am left with the same impression time and again. Of course this never comes out on the first meeting, its not until you really get to know most Christians that their true blue selves come shinning through.

Christians are perphaps one of the most demeaning religous groups I have met thus far in my life. There are so many rules and regulations to live by that it is almost unbearable. What you are required to do of course varies from church to church and things vary within sectors too.

Each church has its own set of "laws" that one must abide by or be shunned basically. Now they wont come out and tell you that you are being outcast, but they sure will show you in one way or another. This is especially true of churches that push the monetary donations. Some churches even go so far as to require a certain stipend of money (oh say 10 percent of your income) pledged in order to become a member. Others require you to not have a prior divorce, commit a certain amount of hours to charity work, or to attend unless they see it as a worthy (or excused) absence. Granted, not all churhes have this obligations, but you would be surprised at how many DO!

What happened to going to church to find faith, be among fellow moral people, and to connect with an intertwined support network. Why must you be of one sect to sit beside your fellow man and feel uplifted? Why should one be required to do anything at all in order to come and be with God? Who set this ridiculous rules, and why are Christians obeying them? Have we lost all sight of what the purpose of being a Christian is?

There are so many more questions that will of course go unanswered, because no one knows. People will claim to have the faith of God in their soul, and the love of God in their hearts, and then say that all non Christians are going to hell. I dont recall reading anything in the Bible that stated that another persons judgement is in your hands.

In fact, as I recall the Bible saying, "Stop judging, so that you shall not be judged, ²for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you. ³But why do you look at the speck, the [one] in your brother's eye, but you do not notice the log, the [one] in your own eye? ⁴Or, how will you say to your brother, 'Allow [me], I shall take the speck from your eye,' and look!, the log [is] in your own eye? ⁵Hypocrite, 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 7:1-5).

This is quite clearly written in the bible and yet still many Christians go on judging. There are definitely verses in the Bible that are left to your own dechipering, but this is certainly not one of them. This verse and many others can be taken only one way, whether you choose to live by it or not is up to you. If you dont however, please stop dirtying the Christian name by calling yourself one.

Let me clear one thing up before the ranting starts to begin, it is not "wrong" to "judge" a sin that is clearly being made by another Christian. Nor is it wrong to kindly bring it to their attention if they are unaware of their sin. It becomes wrong when we judge them as a whole, and decide they are facing one outcome or another when they die. Judging a sin as being a sin is just and right, judging a sin and therefor judging a person is not.

The epidemic that is raging through all Christian sects is un-nerving to me, because as a Christian myself, I do not understand what is motivating people to be somenoe that they so clearly are against. I do not want to be grouped with these people, I do not want the word Christain to leave a bad taste in my mouth, and I certainly do not want Christianity to continue along this epidemic and become something that is everything the Bible tells us is wrong.

For that matter, I do not believe that Christianity itself, or any one of its sects, are the right religion. Religion and difference should be embraced. No one is entirely right in their religious decisions, all one can do is make the best choices that are presented to them. Our job as Christians is to live the moral life God has set forth to us. It is not to decide who is right or wrong in their beliefs.

Just like you wouldnt want someone attacking everything you believe, neither would anyone else. No one can change you mind about what it is in your heart and what gives you the faith to keep your head up and plow through the mountains of problems that life gives you. You should not take it upon yourself to believe you are mighty enough to make that decision for someone else, or to change what they believe.

In conclusion, this epidemic needs to stop. Christians need to start realizing that to believe is to BE. No one is just enough to make the moral or spiritual decisions for other people. Nor are we deserving enough to be bestowed the power of the all might Judge.