I think one of the biggest reasons that the church is losing ground is hypocrisy. “Hypocrisy” refers to the act of claiming to believe something but acting in a different manner. The word is derived from the Greek term for “actor” – literally, “one who wears a mask” – in other words, someone who pretends to be what he is not. It is not hypocrisy to teach that certain things such as drunkenness is sin. Now if the person teaching against it gets drunk every weekend, that would make them a hypocrite which in itself is a sin.
Hypocrisy simply destroys the Christian witness. Andrew Carnegie once said, “The older I get the less I listen to what people say and the more I look at what they do.” So it is with our Christian witness.
Jesus gave what is known as the Sermon on the Mount and addressed this subject:
“You are like salt for all mankind. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it.
“You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Wow – We are the light for the whole world?
Ugh . . . It’s difficult for me to shine brightly sometimes. And I hate it when I do something stupid and it becomes a reflection on Jesus. I used to lecture our employees that when they were out representing out company they should do so professionally. One time a married woman who worked for me went to a convention and went out partying with the other convention goers. She was observed dancing on a table and acting like a fool with several male companions who were also vendors at the show.
The next morning the rest of my staff were at the booth on time and ready to go to work. She came in late wearing a very short dress, unkempt hair and blue sunglasses. It was obvious that she had a hangover. I was waiting for her when she approached the booth and told her between clenched teeth to get those @#%$ sunglasses off her face and proceeded to chew her up one side and down the other. I told her she was a disgrace to my company and told her get out of my booth and sight.
Imagine how it must make God feel for us to represent Him in such a manner. I cannot speak for Him, but I can only envision the dismay and disappointment He must feel upon seeing those non-Christians view our sinful behavior and become disillusioned and turned away from their opportunity to worship Him because of it. I know I don’t want to be the cause of someone not following Jesus because of my poor behavior. I’m sure you feel the same.
Shine brightly today my good friends and rejoice in the Lord who is good ALL the time.
Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
March 8 2017 – Click here to listen