Hypocrisy is a big deal, it’s not the sin you want your life to be about.. ever! Ever heard someone tell you.. Hey, I really want to grow up and become a lying hypocrite! I haven’t, you haven't.
Ever seen a parent name their li'l baby Judas or Ananias or Sapphira? Me neither.
The word hypocrisy comes from the Greek ὑπόκρισις (hypokrisis), and it means "jealous", "play-acting", "acting out", a "coward" or "dissembling." I guess that's one reason why you and I don't like masks. Who is this one who embraces this lifestyle? It’s that person who pretends to have good virtues, you know moral and religious beliefs, decent principles of life, etc., but he or she does not actually possess or live by em.. especially the person whose actions belie their openly stated beliefs.
Sayin’ it, that's the easy part, but living it out is a completely different story and that’s why we each need the indwelling Holy Spirit with His enabling power to live the life!
I once heard a So Cal friend say.. for outward impact-sake it’s better to be a lyin' sinner than a lyin' saint a.k.a. a hypocrite.
Q: Want to make a difference while here, be the same good mannered believer in private as you are in public -- live honestly in Christ. The world won't but you can in Him. Hypocrisy has driven many people far away from religious and even sound churches. And tragically away from a relationship with God the Father by the Spirit through Jesus the Son (who are always honest). God can make any flawed person or leader.. who stumbles or falls into a godly person of integrity with sterling character! Even you and me. Ask Him to.
“From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought [David] to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity (complete honesty) of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.” (Psalm 78:71–72) #emph.mine
Want a plan to really mess up your kids and/or grandkids?
Here's how to guarantee that you’ll mess em up. Rear the kids or grandkids away from a spiritually healthy church. Rear them in a legalistically tight context of external religion where outward performance is more important than inward reality. You fake your faith and when you’re alone you just do what you feel like doing all the time. You sneak around and pretend that you are spiritual. Check out your role-models, the Pharisees and sad Sadducees. You diligently train, your children to do the same. You embrace a long list of do's and don'ts publicly, but hypocritically never practice them yourself privately. You never ever own up to the fact that this is dishonesty, deception, and hypocrisy character flaws that Jesus really hates and never had or did. You act one way and live another, and you can count on it all the way. Emotional and spiritual damage will indeed occur. Very true about living dishonest.
News Flash! Your kids are not expecting perfection from their parents or grandparents. They know you mess up just as well as you know you do. I have messed up before and gotten really angry at my kids and have on occasion asked them to forgive me for my words and attitude. I didn't understand why all my efforts to properly train didn't work. Liney, didn't you and I read all the wonderful books from the studied doctors on raising kids? She did great, I failed at times. No excuses. My second son seemed to have a hard time with my ten house rules and his school’s rules. Not really sure if all those rule there were good. Perhaps they were. I'd get so frustrated at times, because what worked with me didn't seem to work with him. He then grew up and became a snipper in the 101st Airborne division of the Army and got diagnosed with some serious mental issues. Liney and I found this all out later on.
I had some simple youth room rules too. Guess what.. periodically it's not at all a bad idea to apologize to your children for messing up in any way. NO, I CAN’T DO THAT OR THEY WILL LOSE RESPECT FOR ME.
Oh yes you can and they'll probably gain a lot of respect for you, saying O my, dad's finally owning up to what he actually is and does. He's actually getting honest and admitting his hypocrisy.
And while you are at it do this. It’d be good to apologize to God (repenting of it or of past youthful impudence in this area) and then to some other people you’ve been around too. Apologize to your parents, apologize to your spouse, to your fellow workers and buddies. You know we all have moments of hypocrisy and yet, we want to avoid that kind of lifestyle at all costs. Jesus can make us into the honest people we always wanted to become, that we can’t make ourselves into. He can use you as a fearless witness full of grace and truth, as a person of integrity.
Many fairly moral people will sadly end up in that lake of fire, and many “bad people” (that are bad people cuz only One is good) will be welcomed into God’s holy heaven cuz they early came to the only One who forgives. It’s true. Cuz of the Cross of Christ and some humble honesty before God, none living need go split that hideous and hot lake wide open -- splash! Goin' to Christ now and NOT goin' there is a better option!
Sure, take heed to His words. Dishonesty is what sends many people to hell, and honesty (with God first in confession, repentance and faith) is why many (forgiven) sinners will be in heaven. When was the last time you went and told on yourself to Jesus and asked Him to forgive you? He knows it all anyways.
Hypocrisy is what keeps you and me from being transparent witnesses. It’s what keeps us from being honest, candid, truthful with God and with ourselves.
Q: Have you seen the warning signs of hypocrisy? Have you found out how you can avoid this lifestyle in your spiritual walk, believer!
“But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” 5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” 9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.” Acts 5:1-11 nlt
- The more we mature and grow up, the further we go spiritually, yes, the more we get into this Christian life, the more we realize we need to simply walk tight in the light.. with Jesus. I mean with a very honest lifestyle.. inwards, upwards and outwards.
- Ananias’s sin was that the man lied to the Holy Spirit. He had a deceptive heart. Don't do that -- He see, feels grieved, knows it all and is the One you always need to be honest with!
- In an attempt to impress other people like religious people often try to do, Ananias and Sapphira were pretending to be something they totally were not. God could have changed them earlier if they would have told on themselves and cooperated with the Spirit.
- We need to examine our own hearts, minds, and lives to see if our outward profession is backed up by our inward heart and practice. Even at home.
- Judas.. the one who kissed Jesus.. sure wanted to appear devout when he was actually devious and deceptive.
The Holy Spirit has come to draw us to Christ. He has come to convict of dishonesty and show us our tremendous need for Jesus, but the worst of all sins and the only unforgivable sin is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That’s never coming to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.
Got some moments to check out more Scriptures on this?
“Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.” Prov. 12:22–23
“A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.” Prov. 13:5
“An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.” Proverbs 14:5
“A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful. He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge” Proverbs 14:25
“The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar. The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm” Proverbs 19:22–23
“It is better to be poor than dishonest.” nlt
“An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.” Proverbs 24:26
“An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.” nlt
“Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, for would you deceive with your lips? Do not say, ‘I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.” Proverbs 24:28–29
“Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors: ‘To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.’” Prov. 8:1–7
“He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Proverbs 26:24–28
“Whoever hides hatred [has] lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.” Proverbs 10:18–21
“He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy. No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.” Proverbs 12:17–22
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.” Proverbs 19:5
“He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.” Proverbs 19:8–9
“Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.” Proverbs 20:17
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.” Proverbs 21:5–6
“A false witness shall perish, but the man who hears him will speak endlessly.” Proverbs 21:28
The Proverbs can help us with truthful living. Pray like ya mean it cuz you do -- cuz you love the Lord! One by one, we can learn truth, we can tell the truth, we can return to Christ and live the truth behind closed doors and out in public. We each can be won by One and then be used to win others one on one. Yes, by Him working through us.
The honest person wisely encourages others to carefully hear the Word for wise application as they daily draw near to God (See Prov. 4). Why? Because in the Lord anyone can find the best type of wisdom for life.
In Proverbs the father received wisdom for application when he was a boy (see chp. 4), and then he honestly admonished his children to do the same.
I say, choose godly wisdom too. Live honest before the Lord today as if it’s your last day here, so that all your motives, words and actions are true.
So that your heart, attitude, godly counsel and example will positively impact and influence others towards God to get real. Yes, to get right with Him. Live every day real close to Him who has always been honest, I mean right in His will, walking in the light and love of Jesus.. wisely doing His will His way as the Spirit of wisdom leads you to. Live honest by His power so that you can be used of God to point others in the right direction and help them to live wisely, honestly, purely.
When you have wisdom, you have protection (Prov. 4:6) and promotion (vv. 8–9) and you will have the freedom to make progress spiritually and in progress others ways too (v. 12).
As you obey God’s truthful Word, the light of life will get brighter on the pathway of life (v. 18). But this is not true if you are on the pathway of the wicked. They love to lie and that route is one of darkness that's getting darker.
King Solomon emphasized having your whole person controlled by God’s honest Word (vv. 20–27; Col. 3:16). This will guide you on the right path and keep you from lame detours and distractions that hinder.
Today, we all have the opportunity to turn, trust and give ourselves to Him who is the truth. The Proverbs can help us with that. One by one, let's tell the truth, return and be won by One. Here’s some more verses for ya..
- Romans 7:15-18
- Philippians 3:13-14
- John 10:10
- Acts 2
- 1 Peter 5:8
- Acts 5:1-11
- Matthew 6:1-6
- Revelation 22:17
