The
Optimistic Hypocrite
Woe to you…you hypocrites!
Matthew 23:23
John was well-respected as one of the
most active members in the church. He tithed and gave to needy causes
and even sat on several committees. So when one of the young men in
the church called him a hypocrite to his face, it seemed the teenager
was destined for discipline.
“Why would you call me a hypocrite?”
John asked. “I love the Lord…and the work I do for Him.” he
professed.
“And working for Satan, too?” the
teen rejoined.
John was taken aback. “How dare
you?!” he said. “Do you know how serious false accusations are?!”
“It’s not a false accusation,”
the teen said bluntly. “I know what you do behind closed doors; so
does God. You just think it’s a secret,” he added.
John fought to compose himself. “I
don’t know what you think you know, but spreading rumors and
destructive lies is defamation of character, young man! Do you
realize charges could be brought against you for such talk?”
“Charges?! Against me?! What about
you?! Serving alcohol to minors during private parties from that
well-stocked bar at your cabin on Lake Erie?”
How could this kid know about that?!
I haven’t told or invited anyone from around here to the cabin.
How did this kid find out?!
†
Optimistic hypocrisy is the art of
judging others as the real sinners while we ourselves live by
a different standard, appearing as impressive symbols of Jesus’
sanctifying power. We do things, believing in our hearts we are good
enough and worthy of salvation, refusing to surrender our whole
heart because we enjoy a little sin. John believed his was hidden
from those who mattered. In his arrogance, he was found out,
unintentionally showing people that he was, indeed, hypocritical of
what he professed.
The Pharisees felt they were superior,
living by a different set of rules. Jesus called them on it.
There is a line across which we are not
to wander. In his song, 'The Fall Line' Jack Johnson related to an
unseen, yet real line that, once crossed, denotes losing our grip on
honesty and falling into hypocrisy. It's equivalent in scripture is a
religious spirit.
It is easy to judge others, while we,
ourselves, do some of those same things, it makes us feel just a
little bit better about our own failures.
But, as Jesus says in today's text, it
is wrong and brings its own judgment. If we persist, we might just
find ourselves, like John, being called out.
Prayer
“Reveal anything that
doesn’t belong in my life, Lord, and help me surrender it to You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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