Christians are Hypocrites

Hey everyone,

The dictionary defines hypocrisy as: "a pretending to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel".

Man, that is convicting. I admit that I am a hypocrite. And if you say that you are not, then you just became one.

The pretending part is convicting in that at times we all have a false perception of who we think we are or would like to be that may not be reality. This often comes out in me caring more about what you think about me than what God knows about me.

Same with the feel side of the definition. I want you to think I feel certain ways at times not because I necessarily do but because I want you to think certain things about me and view me in certain ways that make me look better. I want you to think I am a caring person more so than wanting to be a caring person. I want you to think I am a person of character more than I am willing to work on my character.

I don't think having a desire to be something or having a standard of truth that you struggle with and yet fall short of is necessarily hypocrisy. I think leading others to think you have a standard you are striving for and yet truthfully you are not striving and struggling toward that standard is a better definition of hypocrisy.

Jesus was clear on his definition of being a hypocrite: "Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can't see past the log in your own eye. Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from our own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." Matthew 7:4,5

Jesus really has a way to break it down doesn't he?

Notice, He does not teach that calling a speck out in your brother's eye is wrong. He does teach to make sure we constantly practicing self-eye examinations as we encourage our brothers and sisters.

Ultimately, I want to point people to Jesus because I will always let them down as Jesus is the only perfect one.

Love to hear your thoughts on this subject of hypocrisy...

Peace,

Brad T.

Christians Are Too Judgmental

Nearly 9 out of 10 folks who do not attend church (87%) said in a recent poll from Barna Group Research said that the term 'judgmental' accurately describes present-day Christianity. This is one of the big three--the three most widely held negative perceptions of Christians (along with being antihomosexual and hypocritical)--which we will discuss in upcoming blogs.

To put this in perspective, when you introduce yourself to a neighbor, and you mention your faith, chances are he or she will think you are judgmental.

Equally alarming was the stat that 53% of young Christians (16-29) believe that the label judgmental accurately fits present-day Christianity.

All of this goes to show that in our world today, how we communicate is as important as what we communicate.

Are Christians Judgmental?

What defines being judgmental. Can you disagree with someone and not be judgmental?

It is interesting that being judgmental in our society has come to mean disagreeing. If you don't agree with me on something then you are being judgmental. If you are judging me then you don't/can't love me.

I have a 10 year old daughter that does lots of things, thinks lots of things, and has attitudes about things that I don't necessarily agree with but yet I love her.

I don't think disagreeing is judging. Judgment happens when my disagreement causes me to not love you or hinders my care for you.

It also interesting how many have created a Jesus in their minds that does not seem to be the Jesus from scripture.

This Sunday I teaching on John 8 where Jesus is presented with a woman caught in adultery. He gives a great response..."He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her". People in the crowd sober up and one by one the stones hit the ground.

Now that is a great picture of Jesus--the non-judging one.

But if you read further, He then says to her, 'go your way, and sin no more'. Interesting!

He views her lifestyle choice, calls it sin, and exhorts her to stop.

Jesus does judge her sin but then again, he is the only one that can because he was the only one without sin.

If you read my first post, I wrote some things that annoyed me. Those were intentional because i wanted to see how long it would take before someone would judge me for my thoughts. Read the first response (anonymous). I was called judgmental right off the bat by someone that has never met me. The moment you think you are humble...guess what--you are not. It is also hard to make a judgment about someone without being judgmental.

We all judge. We all disagree with others over issues. The question is, can i disagree with someone and yet still love them.

i understand why people think Christians are judgmental. I am trying to change that perception to folks around me. Can i love those that i don't necessarily agree with?

I believe we can and i believe that is truly loving a person. It is easy to love those we like and that are like us but what about those who are hard to like. Can you love them?

Leave the judging to God for He is the only one with the credentials to do it.

Instead, love someone fiercely that is hard to love...you might be amazed at the effect.

Love to hear your thoughts!

Can We Talk?

If we’re all honest, there are a lot of things in life that are annoying...and here are some of my top ones:

People that stand around the machines in the gym in expensive work out clothes but never do anything—move out of the way—go order a pizza!
People that go slow in the passing lane and will not move when you are behind them—all of you should be locked up.
Grown men wearing sport jerseys—dude, unless you’re on the team or under the age of 12, lose the jersey.
Overweight people that wear skinny people clothes
Over-age people that try to look hip by wearing younger clothes
Any type of comb-over—just shave it off and be done with it.
Coffee breath
Mint breath trying to cover coffee breath
People that talk too loud on their cell phones
People that never give up the armrest, even for a second on a airplane or movie theater seat

And last but not least…

The thing that might be the most annoying to me and is certainly the most detrimental to the world is religious people that claim to be Christian but act, speak and engage in a way that looks nothing like Jesus. I think as a result, many people love Jesus a lot more than Church. Churches are dying because people are staying away from the religious crowd. Having grown up in church my entire life, I have to admit that if I were not a Christian and all I had to go on was the lives, attitudes, and actions of most Christians... I would not choose to be a Christian, much less attend their churches.

If Christians are commanded to be imitators of God and to walk in love as Jesus loved you (Ephesians 5:1), then why do so many people love Jesus but want nothing to do with His followers? Why do so many consider themselves spiritual but not religious? Why do so many love Christ but are annoyed by Christians?

There are so many things I see in Christians’ lives that are totally disconnected from what Jesus taught. For instance, how can a Christian ever be a racist? How can a Christian say he believes in an all-powerful God and yet fret every four years if the wrong candidate gets in the White House? Why does long hair bother so many? Tattoos? Piercings? -And yet the world is falling a part each day and that doesn’t cause as much upheaval in their hearts. How can a Christian condemn someone’s sexuality and yet behind closed doors be addicted to porn?

Honestly, I think we're all hypocrites to some extent but we so easily look over our own inconsistencies and struggles, then build lectures on everyone else’s. I think we’re all intolerant of people who don’t think the way we do to some extent. For example, the Tim Tebow Superbowl commercial spot with his mom brought so much anger out of people. -And yet the exploitation of women on so many other commercials didn’t raise the same ire.

I believe Christians need to learn from those who do not claim to follow Jesus and vice versa. That is why I am starting a new series at Austin Ridge Bible Church entitled “Christianoscopy”. Christians, we need an exam. It will be invasive and uncomfortable but I believe we need to act like Jesus or quit the religious game.

Jesus faced the most critique, slander, and belligerence from the religious crowd. They couldn’t understand why He would have dinner with those they deemed as ‘sinners’. Sound familiar? It’s time to quit categorizing everyone in right or left categories. It’s time to love others in a way that is larger than making them an evangelistic project. It’s time for your Christianoscopy.

I’m also grieved to say that often times everyone is allowed to share their opinions except Christians. Some of the most intolerant people I know are the very people that scream at Christians for being intolerant. I don’t think having an opinion makes someone intolerant. I don’t believe having an opinion and belief makes someone judgmental. I do believe a person is intolerant and judgmental if his or her opinion makes it impossible to love others that do not share it.

I would love to hear from you. Tell me stories of times you have been drawn to Jesus because you encountered a Christian. Or maybe you are not a Jesus follower today because you have been around proclaiming Christians. What keeps you from attending church? What are some areas where religion about Jesus has skewed your mission instead of a relationship with Jesus propelling it? Either way, blog your thoughts and feelings here. It’s time to put it all out on the table.