by Richard Mansel

Surely you have heard this exchange.

"Do you attend church?"

"No way!" "

"Why not?"

"They're all a bunch of hypocrites up there!"

At this point, the one posing the questions is supposed to pause, see the profundity of the charge and slink away in shame.

Hypocrite simply means, "one who is pretending to be something they are not." The popular usage usually refers to someone who fails to live up to a standard bestowed on their position in society.

Originally the word was ascribed to actors playing a part. One writer has said, "The art of the actor is that from the moment he dons the mask his whole conduct on stage should be in keeping with his allotted role" (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 8:560).

Let us consider this concept for a moment. Two films are under consideration. In the first, a man roams the streets filming whomever passes in front of his camera. In the second, friends are hired to play roles according to a script. Which film is using actors? Obviously it would be the second film.

Someone acts purposely on stage or film to portray someone they are not. By definition, for someone to be a hypocrite they must do so purposefully. If we inadvertently wander onto the stage of a live play in the park, we are not suddenly billed as an actor in that production. Someone who dons a mask has to do so intentionally.

The hypocritical Christian is portraying a faithful believer when they intend to deceive. Vine's says "it was a custom of Greek and Roman actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 242). No actor alters their appearance or voice without intending to do so.

Christians who are weak and sinful are not necessarily hypocrites. Christians who battle temptations and lose frequently are not hypocrites, but sinners in need of forgiveness. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:10). We all fail to be what we intend. If this made one a hypocrite, then everyone would be a hypocrite. Consider that when an alcoholic refuses a drink or a rapist passes on a victim, they are hypocrites by the popular definition.

Let us consider some thoughts. First, the charge evidences a lack of understanding of what a true Christian is. Second, the charge creates an untenable situation. Since everyone who ever lived but Jesus was a hypocrite, we would not be able to live among human beings.

This charge also fails to account for personal responsibility. The hypocrisy of a Christian and the religious condition of the sinner are two different issues. The Christian will be held responsible by God for his hypocrisy. If he fails to remedy the situation and repent, he will lose his soul.

Yet, this has nothing to do with the sinner leveling the charge. They will also stand before God and be judged. Revelation 20:12 says, "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things written in the books" (NKJV). Then charges of hypocrisy will be futile. Now the accuser will be the one in trouble.

A safer path would be to worry about our own soul and let God handle the hypocrites.

by Barbara Oliver

Last night I was talking with a friend, and at the same time we both said, "Unfortunately, we are known for what we don't do."

We did not mean that we should not be the voice of concern in this age of moral laissez faire. Knowing what we don't or shouldn't do is important. But should it be the outstanding characteristic of our Christian walk?

My goal in life is not to be known for what I don't do, but rather for what I do. When people look at me, I want them to wonder what makes me different. I want to be known for my love, and my joy, and my peace. I want to be known for my longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23).

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).

Let us strive in our Christian growth to do the good works that God has prepared for us to do. The don'ts should not be done. But let's make sure we are doing the do's.

by Don Ruhl

Disciples of Christ cannot allow themselves to be brought under the control of anything.

 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Cor. 6:12, NKJV). 

 There are things that are perfectly allowable for us to do, but that does not mean that we have to do them! They may not be helpful to us or they might be a stumbling block to someone watching us. For example, we are free to eat all food, but if I have a health problem, such as diabetes, then I should not insist on eating what is harmful to my body, because my body is supposed to be for the glory of God. I cannot say that God allows me to eat whatever I want. Again, take food for an example. If there are Jews around me who believe that eating pork is not right, I cannot demand on my God-given right to be able to eat that food. I must restrain myself in the presence of that Jew for the sake of his soul that he might see how Christians think of others and perhaps he will give consideration to converting to Christ. 

 I cannot be so under the power of something that I like that I refuse to give it up, whether permanently or temporarily, according to the situation. Interestingly, in the next verse (13), Paul uses food as one of his examples. Food is necessary for life, but even food cannot have power over us, and fasting is a good way to prove the point to ourselves, to God and to others. 

 Whatever we do, let us do it for the glory of God, the salvation of lost souls and the edification of our fellow-Christians.

Don Ruhl 441 Damont Street Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601-2311