Don’t follow me

It seems lately that every time I witness to someone they summarily reject what I’m telling them based on a previous bad experience with a Christian or church and express an extreme distaste for religion. I have heard hundreds of stories of “so-called” Christians and how their behavior is far worse than non-Christians. I do not argue that what they say is true and yes there are many hypocrites filling the pews and even standing in the pulpits of our churches. I do suggest that the best place for a hypocrite is to be in church where spiritual medicine can be obtained to heal this sickness.

I try to make the point that Jesus detested hypocritical behavior too and some of His strongest language was directed towards Pharisees and other hypocrites of that day. He will deal with their sins and administer just punishment to them and I know that He will do so because the Bible assures me of it. Often my arguments fall on deaf ears and it is all to no avail and the scars are just too deep. They are permanently disillusioned with religion. Alas God often receives the “bad rap” for our mistakes and these poor souls may spend eternity in Hell because of the mistakes of a few.

As Christians we must try harder to present ourselves and our lives as being a good thing. Unfortunately it is impossible to be a “perfect” example and we should be quick to admit that yes sadly even we as Christians sin and we should ask our non-Christian friends to follow Jesus Christ and not us. Consider King David, a man after God’s own heart who likewise loved the Lord immensely, even David could not withstand the temptation of Bathsheba and succumbed to the temptation. I believe this example is in the Bible to remind every generation that in spite of how much we love the Lord or vice versa, we still cannot live “perfect” lives and thus it was necessary for Jesus Christ to do it for us. While in the desert, Jesus did not give in to temptation even when tempted with the “entire world” and everything in it.

Perhaps the best answer to the hypocrite-phobic is that Jesus Christ is certainly no hypocrite and that is what Christianity is all about and He is who we worship. Christianity is not about organized religion, some arrogant preacher with a “short-man” complex, a deacon, a choir member, or Sunday school teacher, or any other “fallen” imperfect flesh; it is about Jesus Christ who willingly laid down his innocent and perfect life for all of our sins including hypocrisy in order that we might be reunited with God. Christianity is about Jesus Christ not any human being.

Christians can help by following the example set by Jesus the best we know how and for heaven’s sake we should quit condemning people because they do not lead perfect lives. Because we too WILL fail on occasions just as King David did. Hopefully it will not be in front of a non-Christian that is watching our behavior and perhaps evaluating whether or not they should become a Christian too. Will they see in us joy, peace, and a gentle demeanor, with a forgiving spirit that treats everyone like they would like to be treated? Or will they see someone that is no better and perhaps even worse than their non-Christian world and turn away from God’s eternal salvation because of it? You and I will determine thatand yes there will be a price that must be paid for that as well…

Matthew 18:7
How terrible it will be for anyone that causes
others to sin…