GlocalNet

The other night as I was channel surfing I watched the last part of Bill Maher’s Real Time program.  I’m not a fan - he even makes me mad most of the time - but I’ll listen just to see what he has to say and how some people are thinking in our country - just so you know Rush Limbaugh has the same effect on me.  There is no news here in America anymore - it’s all pundits.  You’re going to have to watch the BBC and believe it or not, some people are now saying Al Jazeera.  Anyhow, Maher’s comments were incredible.  It was like a sermon to Christians. 

Some of the quotes:
“I’m a non-Christian like most Christians.” 
“If you ignore what he says - you’re auditing.” 
“Martin Luther King gets to call himself a Christian because he actually practiced loving his enemies.” 

The word hypocrite is more tied to Christianity than it is any other religion.  Why? 

First, because it’s the word Jesus used.  Jesus “popularized” the concept more than anyone and talked about the subject more than anyone.  He would call people who like to pray and be recognized, yet
not follow him, hypocrites.  The word itself is a picture of one who has one face, but puts an acting face on front of it.  It’s similar in meaning to the term “two-faced” used regularly. 

Second, because Jesus spoke so much of what’s in the heart - the focus was on transparency and what is real.  He knew that his message would be seen more in the life of someone than merely a belief system or a process for finding God.  Unlike other religions, the idea wasn’t merely finding God - it was letting God live in you.  To put up a front when he isn’t, or to speak God’s truth but live contrary was to misrepresent the nature of God.  As crazy as it sounds - the concept of “What Would Jesus Do?,” plays big here - it’s responding to life as Jesus would.  Your life is your biggest testimony.

Third, Christianity lived in the life of a person - wasn’t just to bless the person, but to bless others as God works through them.  A hypocrite does the exact opposite - they use religion for their benefit thereby saying one thing, but practicing another.  This is why those in the ministry are judged harsher both by people and by God.  James 3 makes it clear that those who teach will be judged by a greater strictness.  This is why Paul writes to Timothy about deacons and elders, and the overwhelming majority of the qualifications have to do with character - not doctrine or even leadership skills - though those matter. 

Hypocrites come in all sizes and shapes - not just rich ones, not just religious leaders.  Some hypocrites are more the classic kind - using religion for their benefit and ignoring the parts that would challenge them.  Some hypocrites smile a lot, hug a lot and manipulate people like the “Jim Jones” type.  In the end, the hypocrite uses God, instead of God using them. 

Inside all of us exists the danger of hypocrisy.  Unchecked motives, tolerated sin, self-gratification, and the absence of love - all are the stepping stones towards hypocrisy.  No hypocrite would consider themselves a hypocrite.  That’s the scary part.  There’s nothing we can do about the hypocrisy in others.  There’s a lot we can do about the hypocrisy that exists in our own hearts.  If we lay our lives against the teachings of Jesus - starting with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, it helps us examine our lives.  If we open our lives to the examination of the Holy Spirit - the Spirit will convict and guide us and speak to the secret things in our heart that no one else sees.  If we open our lives to the Body of Christ and hold ourselves accountable to others, then we are also less likely.  Only a vibrant faith in Jesus can keep the life of Jesus flowing in our life.  The greatest anger Jesus showed people - was not to unbelievers - but to believers that twisted what God said and didn’t reflect who God was. 

What would it look like, if we radically lived the life of Jesus today?  How would our words be different?  How would our actions be different?  How would our attitudes be different?  May it be so.