Question Worth Asking #1: Hypocrisy

When you’re signing up for a poke in the eye, why settle for a sharp stick when you can go with a red-hot poker?

That’s sort of my thought process when picking the first of the Wesley brothers’ Holy Club questions for consideration today. It happens to be at the top of the list, and as such, it’s the most likely question to get answered. If you’re only going to answer one question from the list during a time of devotions or prayer, it’d probably be the first one you see. So, where did they start? Hypocrisy. Here’s the question:

Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

Though most of these questions could be considered eye-pokey, this one’s of the red-hot poker variety.

We all know that God sees everything. That’s no secret. We also know how to fool other people; we’re well-versed in it, since most of us have practiced hypocrisy to some degree for as long as we’ve been able to speak. Yet it should come as little surprise that God detests hypocrisy. Why? Indulge me for a moment.

• Hypocrisy is by nature a lack of integrity. The person with integrity has consistent character when he’s alone or with others. He may behave differently according to norms and comfort level, but his character is the same whether he’s by himself or with his children, wife or boss. And that’s hard to do. You hear it said, “That guy’s a different person at work than he is at home.” Well, that shouldn’t be the case. My sins are hardest to hide when I’m with my family; I’m comfortable with them, and they see me at my very worst. It’s easiest to hide among strangers or people I don’t know well. Why? They don’t know my secrets and gross sin is not as evident when I’m just being polite, kind or civil, as I ought to do with strangers. But what else?

• Hypocrisy is lying. We let ourselves off the hook far too easily here. When your talk doesn’t match your walk, you’re a liar, pure and simple. We’re only kidding ourselves when we pretend it’s not.

• Hypocrisy is in fact, doing something different from what you think. It’s not going far enough to suggest that hypocrisy involves a gap between what we say and what we do. It’s worse than that. If you even think differently from how you behave, you’re a hypocrite.

• Hypocrisy is ugly. Consider Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees. He absolutely detests that they are so great on the outside while being filthy in their hearts (e.g., Luke 11:39-40). The Pharisees were self-righteous, satisfied with their heritage and their accomplishments. Though their behavior wise pious, their hearts were vile. Jesus saw this and saved his most scathing comments for those who refused to believe they needed a Savior like Him.

• The hypocrite’s reward is limited to this life. Finally, whatever praise the hypocrite is able to gain from the men he manages to fool or impress is the extent of his reward. That’s what he’s working for, and that’s what he gets. The man who lives to please God will impress plenty of people along the way, but that’s not his goal. His goal is the honor of God, and God promises to exalt the humble (Luke 18:14).

I don’t know about you, but for me, answering this question honestly can be painful. If I’m being honest, I like it when people think I’m better than I actually am. I’m sure none of you can relate.

May God grant us a proper view of Himself so that we may see – and portray – ourselves rightly.

Shared @ Welcome Home Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday.