Hypocrites in Church? That's Where They're Supposed to Be!

I can't tell you how many times I've heard the phrase, "I don't go to church...too many hypocrites!" A thought occurred to me the other day...of course there are hypocrites in church...that's where they need to be!"

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a hypocrite is "a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs." In a nutshell, if you are a Christian and your "walk" doesn't match your "talk", you are a hypocrite.

I don't know about you, but I fit in that category from time to time. My "walk" doesn't always match what I say I believe in. I can try to live a life that shines what I believe in, but, inevitably, I'm going to mess up and do or say something that is contrary to that. Guess what...so will you. We are all imperfect, we will all make mistakes.  In Romans 3:23, it says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That is why we need a Savior. (John 3:16-17)

The thing is, most people are hypocrites at some point in their lives. Some on a daily basis. Whether or not you believe in God, you believe in something and when your "walk" doesn't match your "talk," you are a hypocrite. Most people believe in right and wrong, for example, and many are very vocal about it. Yet, those same people will also make wrong choices or do or say the wrong thing. That is just our human nature.

When you become a Christian, though, you are asking Jesus into your heart and into your life and asking for help to become a better person (more like Jesus), and to live life "better." Too many people think that once you become a Christian, you should no longer make mistakes. Nothing could be farther from the truth. On the contrary, you WILL make mistakes. The difference is you have someone to go to for forgiveness and for help in trying to "do" better.

Are there people in church who live their lives as a constant contradiction to their beliefs? Yes, unfortunately, there are. Church is filled with imperfect people. Most are truly trying to live better lives and make a difference.

Being a Christian isn't about living life "perfectly." If it were, we wouldn't have needed Jesus. In Mark 2:16-17, after the Pharisees (teachers of the law) saw Jesus eating with the Tax Collectors and other sinners, they questioned his disciples about it, thinking he shouldn't be "hanging around with sinners." Jesus told them "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners."

You see, he knew we would mess up. That's why he came.

That is comforting to me. When I know that I've messed up my "walk" in some way and said or done something that definitely doesn't match "my talk," I can go to the one who understands and ask for forgiveness and for wisdom in how to do it better the next time.

Me a hypocrite? Yes, from time to time. Am I forgiven? Yes! Can I get help to "walk" a better walk? Yes!  How about you? Do you need help in "walking your talk?" Ask Jesus into your heart, today. He's really good at "walking" and "talking."

...and if someone tells you they don't go to church, because it is filled with hypocrites...invite them to come with you! They might just fit in!

What Label Do You Wear?

Our world today is full of labels. Labels on the clothes we wear (designer or not); labels on the food we eat (fat-free, sugar-free, organic); and labels on the cars we drive ("sporty," "mommy-van," "green"). We even have labels for each other: Tall, short, fat, thin, cool, nerd, friendly, hermit, lazy, workaholic, etc. Sometimes the labels are complimentary, such as "she's such a caring person." Most of the time, however, the labels are negative.

The negative "label" can come from anywhere. Sometimes it's society or the media that defines and places the labels. While this, in itself, can be a bad thing, I believe it is far less harmful than the "label" that is given to us by a loved one or given to us, by ourselves. It's a lot easier to "shake off" a label given by someone who doesn't know and love us, than it is to free ourselves from a negative label given by a loved one. We tend to believe it when a loved one labels us, even if it wasn't true. And worse, it may not have been true, but we might even "grow into it." If you tell a child that he is "worthless," he may grow up thinking he is. We even "label" our own selves with labels like "unloveable," "beyond hope," "ugly," or "not good enough."

The truth is, though, we are not what society, a loved-one, or ourselves label us, we are so much more.

We were created by God to be much more than any earthly label that tries to define us. He created us with specific gifts, talents, and personalities that are unique to us, and no one else. Even identical twins are unique, in their own way. We were created for a greater purpose, to use our unique talents and personalities, to be a blessing and to be blessed. (Read 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 1:4-5; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 139:13-18).

What label(s) are you wearing today? Maybe it's time to remove that label. Maybe it's time to "put on" the label that was made for you by the One who created you. You are so much more than what others, or even, yourself, think. Maybe it's time you choose His label...the Master "Designer's" label. Wear it well, you are one-of-a-kind!