Hypocrites

How often have you heard people say that they don’t go to church because churches are full of hypocrites. They say that there are many people who go to church and ‘sit in the front row’ and really look like they have bought into the whole Christianity thing, but the rest of the week their behaviour doesn’t agree with what they see on Sunday. This is an extremely sad state of affairs but unfortunately has been true for hundreds of years. I was reading a book that described these people as ‘those who think they are Christians, but don’t have a genuine relationship with Christ.’

Colossians 3:2-25, Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work. (Message)

If we say that we are Christians we always have to do our best in whatever it is we are doing. We cannot be lazy and think that God’s grace will cover it up. That really isn’t being a good ambassador on earth.

Colossians 3:23, And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, (NKJV)

If we go to church on Sunday and we get involved in the worship and the service, but we do not have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, we have to ask ourselves what we’re doing in church? Are we there to please people? Maybe our spouse or parents or children? Or are we seeking the truth?

We cannot judge people who are outside the church, people who are non-believers, but we are supposed to judge, or rather to help, people inside the church.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13, or what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Romans 16:17-18, Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Now this does not mean that we must walk around gossiping about church members who are doing things that aren’t right. There is a way that is has to be done.

Matthew 18:15-17, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

If there are people in the church who are giving the church a bad name it is the duty of the leaders and the true believers to gently reprimand these people. Only once every avenue has been explored can the person who is misrepresenting Jesus be put out of the church, but people who are not behaving according to scripture have to be confronted.

1 Corinthians 12:12, For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Every one of us has a place in the body of Christ, in the church. We are supposed to complement each other. We should use our gifts to edify others and to help each other. We have to be like cart horses who pull the cart together. We shouldn’t be working against each other, each one seeking his own glory. The only way we are going to get the church to look the way God wants it to look is if we put Him at the head and follow in humility.