Today's Christianity, Part 1: Of Christians and Hypocrites

(Viewers may wish to read the Introduction to this Series first).
Take a look at the photo I have attached to this article. What do you see? My guess is, 99% of those who see it will say they just saw a spot. Maybe 1% will say they saw a plain background with a spot on it. Why?

That's because we usually notice the one thing that stands out instead of the big picture. I've encountered hundreds of people who avoid church and God because they've had experiences with a "Christian hypocrite."

Are church people hypocrites, or are Christians hypocrites? It's possible there's a difference between the two. YES, of course, there are "real" Christians who make mistakes, who may do or say something that seems hypocritical and even hurtful. But there are also a lot of people spouting Bible verses and sitting in church who aren't "true" Christians. They may not even know it themselves. Let's explore two points here: (1) What's a "true Christian"? And (2) Are all "Hypocrites" real hypocrites - or are some hypocrites by perception?

What's a true Christian - How can you tell who's a real believer in Jesus?
Many people think they're Christians because they had Christian parents, or they basically believe in God and celebrate Christmas, or there's a Bible in the house. Or maybe they were baptized at birth.

A true Christian is someone who remembers a time when they actively began believing these things on their own: Jesus Christ was (is) the Son of God and the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, John 10:22-30). He existed before his earthly life (Micah 5:2, Daniel 3:20-28). He was crucified to take every man's sin upon Himself (Isaiah 53:5). He rose from the tomb, first appeared to witnesses, and then ascended to Heaven (Acts 26:22-23). Christ alone begs forgiveness from God for all people, to give them eternal life after physical death (John 3:16). His Holy Spirit was left on earth to inhabit anyone who will accept him and begin walking a new kind of life (Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

The true Christian humbly knows he/she is saved through God's grace in spite of everything they've done - not by doing good things (Ephesians 2:8). They demonstrate the "fruits of the Spirit": Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). The true Christian will be careful how he speaks to and treats those outside the faith (Colossians 4:5), yet is ready to tell people about the reason for his hope (1 Peter 3:15).

The true Christian believes we were all born with a tendency toward sin (Genesis 3). How many times did our parents have to say "No" when we were little? Did they ever shout, "Yes, Johnny, break that vase" or "Yes, Janey, go out into the street"? If we were all born "good" we wouldn't have needed guidance to know right from wrong. As my fellow Associated Content writer, Tricia Goss commented on the intro to this series, "...as Christians we know we are simply sick sinners who need Christ's salvation, and try to love as He first loved us." Therefore, true Christians try to stop their own capability of doing wrong (1 Peter 5:8).

Of course, right and wrong is a concept our society is throwing out the window today. "It's all in your perception of what's right and wrong," people are saying. Well, let me ask you this: If right and wrong is all in a person's perception, then:

Is "Hypocrite" sometimes a matter of Perception - in the eye of the beholder?
I know one guy who'd been in church all his life until a Pastor said something he didn't like. He never went back, using the reason "Church people are hypocrites." What was it the pastor said? One day, he put his arm around this guy, gestured toward his wife and said, "You're just not good enough for our girl here." Never mind that this pastor had taken this guy fishing, that people from the church brought food when his wife was sick, or babysat their children for no money, or gave them rides when their car was in the shop... what made that pastor's remark "hypocritical"? Was it perhaps the man's perception? Many people may have taken this as a joke.

But it's so hard to tell if it's a real Christian being hypocritical or just someone who says they are a Christian! There are theologians who can quote every scripture but still don't know Jesus as their Savior. There's a saying - a little Bible knowledge just makes a smart demon (someone who can be used to turn people against the Bible). Another Associated Content friend, Bobbi Leder told me of a recent incident. A man she knows as a "Christian" told her his church was teaching him to hate non-believers, and that she was going to die for being a non-believer. He also said some things about Jewish people. This man is also an alcoholic who lives on welfare. She asked, is it not hypocritical for him to admonish her for not believing in his Lord?

First, only God knows for sure if this man is a true Christian according to descriptions here. Sure, there are real Christians who can't shake alcoholism and find themselves living on welfare. God never said life would be easy just because you believe in Him. But there are also people who have been relieved of addictions when they turn their life over to God. Second, we're all going to die! Bible believers are supposed to ask people if they would like to be sure they will have eternal life after death. There are ways to do this. Shouting "You're going to hell" isn't one of them.

Lastly, no true-hearted Christian church is teaching their members to hate Jews, gays or anyone else. It's just not the same Bible I'm reading. If you enter a church teaching true hate, walk right back out.

However, contrary to popular belief, Jesus was not just about peace, love and joy. He got angry. He didn't approve of everybody's activities just because He loved everybody. He called people out for doing wrong. He even called people hypocrites himself (Matthew 6, 7, 22, 23, Mark 7, Luke 6, 12 and 13)!

BUT Jesus also conversed with "sinners" and diseased people, with people holding jobs that others didn't approve of, with outcasts, poor people and those of ill repute. Because the only way to make someone want to believe in Him is to build personal relationships, show them the example of your own life, teach them what you know and make them want something you have...that peace of mind and direction in life that comes from knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. Nobody can be forced to change. It has to be a change of the heart. And only God can do that. The ultimate change comes when a person answers God's knock on the door to his or her heart.

Yes, many things have been done in the name of "religion" that God doesn't approve of. That's because most of the actions which exhibit "religion" are manmade rules often concocted by people on their own power trips. Others follow them because they haven't read the Bible for themselves. Worshipping God from the heart has very little to do with what church you are in, whether you raise hands or speak in tongues or don't get all excited.

I don't care for the saying "Christians aren't perfect, we're just forgiven" - I think it's a cop-out from being responsible for how we act and treat others. But people of faith are still only human, and may do things in the "flesh" instead of what the Bible tells them. The apostle Paul even says so in Romans 7:14-25: "I don't understand...That which I wish to do and should be doing I don't do, and those things which I hate and know I shouldn't be doing, I do!"

The thing about hypocrites is, they can be everywhere. Are there back-stabbing hypocrites in the workplace? Does that make us think everyone we work with is a hypocrite? Do we never go back to work again? Are there people shouting for tolerance who don't want to hear anyone else's point of view? So should we label all those asking for tolerance as hypocrites? Should all Bible believers and churches get blamed when we run into "Christian hypocrites"?