I’ve heard it said throughout my life, “Christians are hypocrites.” “I’m not going to visit THAT church because they’re a bunch of hypocrites.”
Merriam-Webster’s definition of hypocrite: “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.”
Of course we’ll deny the charge, usually with a pithy retort such as, “Why not join us? There’s plenty of room for one more.”
Yeah, that goes over real well.
Other times we use a different strategy to legitimize a Christian’s shortcomings, evidenced best with the quote from a popular bumper sticker, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”
But let’s think about the hypocrisy charge.
Could there be, IS THERE, any truth to the accusation?
Let’s examine the typical Christian beliefs/actions as viewed on Facebook. It will help greatly if we look at the evidence through the eyes of someone who may not have the same beliefs as you and I.
Since Christians, followers of Christ, claim to believe the Bible, let’s see how our posts on Facebook compare with our stated beliefs.
1. Posts/comments which bash the President of the United States of America.
“Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king (president).” (1 Peter 2:17 NLT)
“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” (Romans 13:1 NLT)
2. Posts/comments that are mean-spirited and malicious.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31 – 4:32 NLT)
3. Posts/comments laced with profanity and sexual innuendos.
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT)
“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes – these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.” (Ephesians 5:3-4 NLT)
4. Posts/comments depicting God as intolerant and vengeful as themselves.
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)
“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.” (2 Timothy 2:24 NLT)
5. Posts/comments insinuating that all Republicans are saints, and all Democrats are satanists.
“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” (Romans 3:22 NLT)
6. Posts/comments that speak of protecting and favoring one race/ethnicity over another.
“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6 NLT)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 ESV)
7. Posts/comments which tend to lead others away from the eternal message of the Cross.
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV)
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news.’” (Romans 10:13-15 ESV)
8. Posts/comments indicating God packs a pistol and keeps an AR-15 in His pickup.
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.’” (Matthew 26:52 ESV)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35 ESV)
9. Posts/comments ridiculing others for their stupidity in not believing like them.
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:1-4 ESV)
“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:9-10 ESV)
10. Posts/comments proving to every other reader they don’t really believe what they claim to believe.
Allow this old saying to suffice: “Your talk talks, and your walk talks; but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”
So how about the claim?
Are we hypocrites? Am I? Are you?
Well…?
Jan Grace 
2 responses to “Are We Hypocrites?”
Just a couple of thoughts. I understand that there is a lot of hatred brewing in our world, our country, and perhaps even in our own back yard. I believe that something we must remember is the motive/reasons for the things people say and do. If we never stand for the principles in our current political climate that the Constitution has supposedly guaranteed, then I believe we are negligent in our responsibilities as citizens.. If it is never right to come against what is wrong, then our founding fathers were some of the biggest hypocrites that ever lived. Many of them were professing Christians. Several documents indicate that the American Revolution was birthed in the pulpits of the colonies. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to see to it that you and I can sit at our computers to say and do what we are doing right now. I do not believe in riots or bashing of any kind but neither do I believe that because I am a professing Christian that it is wrong to own a gun or even carry a gun for personal safety if warranted. I do not believe that God is a Republican or a Democrat either. But I do believe there can and are some basic differences in the platforms and agendas of said parties. Therefore, I plan to exercise my right as citizen to vote for the candidates who I believe will best represent the Constitution and the biblical views that I hold dear. Jesus also said that we were to occupy until He returns. There is a lot of “profiling” in our world today. Let’s be careful that we don’t “profile” our Christian brothers and sisters if they own a gun or vote Republican either. Nearly 40 years ago I enlisted in the armed forces and willingly went to Viet Nam instead of going to Canada to avoid the draft. I carried an AR-15 to protect and defend people in a country that I could barely find on a world map. It was not a popular or exciting thing for an 18 year old lad to commit to, but I was expected to do my part as an American. That mindset and the valuable lessons I learned during that time in my life has served to strengthen my resolve to not sit by and watch America be reduced to a welfare state that is only ruled by those want to exercise absolute power over the weak. I do not want to be labeled a hypocrite, therefore let it be known that I mean every word of what I have just written. I do not expect everyone to agree with me and I say that is OK. All I am saying is something one of those old rednecks named Arron Tippin wrote in a song many years ago. “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.”
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I don’t have any issue with standing up for what we believe, whether it’s the constitution or gay marriage (which I’m NOT in favor of). Yes, I served my country as well, though I was fortunate enough to stay out of Vietnam.
My whole premise for the post isn’t to bash gun owners or Republicans. But there are MANY Christians who, according to their Facebook posts, DO NOT represent their Savior they say they believe in.
Just because someone’s a democrat doesn’t make them Satan incarnate. There are Christians, loving God, hating evil, who still vote in a way I don’t understand. But that’s alright, since they have that right.
A lot of Christians act like if you don’t carry a gun or are a member of the NRA then you’re a communist. Sorry, but that’s my right to NOT own a gun as much as it is someone’s right TO OWN one.
I think if we’re going to live for Jesus, then let’s do it. Everywhere. Let’s not post vulgarities on one post and quote scripture in another. Let’s not fly off into a tirade when someone disagrees with us.
Let’s represent the truth of GOD’S word in love, and His love with the full truth (as we know it and have experienced it).
Too many times we jump on bandwagons that only make the Body of Christ look foolish. I understand God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise, but that doesn’t mean He wants us to be stupid. Wise as serpents, but harmless as doves.
Thanks for commenting.
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