by Howe Foo
Last month, I had a very unique cell group meeting where every member of the cellgroup had to share a short sermon from a verse in Proverbs.
Mine was Proverbs 11:19 "The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered."
Anyway, the verse speaks of how hypocrisy destroys. And I realize that the hypocrisy of Christians is often what repels unbelievers from looking towards the Christian faith. When it comes to not choosing the Christian faith, there are many reasons. But there are many answers from Christianity too. Another belief? Christianity (and in general, most religions) have similar moral values, and makes much moral sense. Doubts? Christian apologetics is an intellectual field of Christianity that uses science, history, archeology and much more to show how logical and reliable Christianity has been since its existence.
But when unbelievers say that Christians are hypocrites, we don't really have much to argue. We can say that it's not the true Christians who are hypocrites, but at some point or another, big or small, we've all been hypocrites. And you'd be shocked at how much this hypocrisy affects people. I'll be sharing about 3 groups of people that were severely affected by Christian hypocrisy, and the results that followed.
1) Christians
Last month, I had a very unique cell group meeting where every member of the cellgroup had to share a short sermon from a verse in Proverbs.
Mine was Proverbs 11:19 "The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered."
Anyway, the verse speaks of how hypocrisy destroys. And I realize that the hypocrisy of Christians is often what repels unbelievers from looking towards the Christian faith. When it comes to not choosing the Christian faith, there are many reasons. But there are many answers from Christianity too. Another belief? Christianity (and in general, most religions) have similar moral values, and makes much moral sense. Doubts? Christian apologetics is an intellectual field of Christianity that uses science, history, archeology and much more to show how logical and reliable Christianity has been since its existence.
But when unbelievers say that Christians are hypocrites, we don't really have much to argue. We can say that it's not the true Christians who are hypocrites, but at some point or another, big or small, we've all been hypocrites. And you'd be shocked at how much this hypocrisy affects people. I'll be sharing about 3 groups of people that were severely affected by Christian hypocrisy, and the results that followed.
1) Christians
The first point, Christians have been deeply affected by hypocrisy of other Christians. Young believers observing their leaders being hypocrites affects their faith, and possibly change their trust of Christianity. Back during The Crusades, specifically the Fourth Crusade in 1202, Western Christians massacred Eastern Christians.
In fact, the cause of the Crusades was a response to the Muslim invasion of Israel in the 7th century. However, when the Muslims took over the Holy Land, Christians were initially treated better by the Muslims than by their own Christian feudal lords. Many converted to Muslims, partially because of lower taxes, but also because they were treated better by their invaders compared to their religious kinsmen.
Thousands of followers were lost through simple hypocrisy.
In fact, the cause of the Crusades was a response to the Muslim invasion of Israel in the 7th century. However, when the Muslims took over the Holy Land, Christians were initially treated better by the Muslims than by their own Christian feudal lords. Many converted to Muslims, partially because of lower taxes, but also because they were treated better by their invaders compared to their religious kinsmen.
Thousands of followers were lost through simple hypocrisy.
2) Mohandas Gandhi
Gandhi is known for being one of the greatest promoters of peace in the world. Through his non-violent acts, India gained independence, and inspired similar pacifists around the world. He was a Hindu.
Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps the best example of someone who was discerning enough to reject Christianity not Christ. He was deeply hurt by his experiences with apartheid and “Christians” during his time in South Africa, and it obviously stymied his relationship with Christ.
One thing Gandhi said was "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Coming from him, that holds a lot of weight.
What if he had become a Christian? His life and experience would be a great example to show what Christianity offered, and in turn, potentially save people by. But no, despite all the morality Christianity offers, Gandhi, who is claimed by many to be one of the greatest men to have lived and more virtuous than most Christians, was a Hindu, and Hindus can hold him as an example of a great Hindu.
Through simple hypocrisy, one of the greatest men was lost, and millions of Hindus can now lay claim to him.
3) Satanists
Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps the best example of someone who was discerning enough to reject Christianity not Christ. He was deeply hurt by his experiences with apartheid and “Christians” during his time in South Africa, and it obviously stymied his relationship with Christ.
One thing Gandhi said was "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Coming from him, that holds a lot of weight.
What if he had become a Christian? His life and experience would be a great example to show what Christianity offered, and in turn, potentially save people by. But no, despite all the morality Christianity offers, Gandhi, who is claimed by many to be one of the greatest men to have lived and more virtuous than most Christians, was a Hindu, and Hindus can hold him as an example of a great Hindu.
Through simple hypocrisy, one of the greatest men was lost, and millions of Hindus can now lay claim to him.
3) Satanists
Ironic? For a bit of background info, there's generally 2 forms of Satanism. Theistic Satanism is the belief in Satan as an actual deity. Laveyan Satanism rejects a belief in all supernatural powers, but uses the name of Satanism as all its beliefs are basically an antithesis to Christianity.
The Satanism most of us know was formed by Anton Lavey. He was an organ player in a circus/carnival. Every week, he would see Christian men paying and enjoying the strip shows, then going to church the next day, repenting. The following week, the cycle would repeat. He was so disgusted, that he eventually came to believe the Christian church strives on hypocrisy. Later on, he even formulated his own religion, Laveyan Satanism. Sad isn't it? To know that hypocrisy led to the creation of an entire religion.
His belief is made very clear in the last of the 9 Satanic Statements (as an opposite to the Ten Commandments) "Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!"
It's a funny statement, but its the conclusion of a man who saw Christian hypocrisy, and created an entire religion to be opposite to Christianity. There are millions of Satanists around the world. Potential souls for Christ.
But let's not forget the last part of the Bible verse.
Proverbs 11:19 "The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered."
Knowledge will deliver the righteous. We need to know how to apply the knowledge of the word of God properly, attractively and lovingly. In the gospels, Jesus taught about many things, and but one thing He always blasted strongly was hypocrisy. For us, while people may not condemn us for our hypocrisy, they will observe us, and it will affect how they look at Christianity.
No one is perfect, and we never will be while we're here, but no one said we couldn't aim for that standard. Aren't we supposed to be trying to be more like Jesus?
The Satanism most of us know was formed by Anton Lavey. He was an organ player in a circus/carnival. Every week, he would see Christian men paying and enjoying the strip shows, then going to church the next day, repenting. The following week, the cycle would repeat. He was so disgusted, that he eventually came to believe the Christian church strives on hypocrisy. Later on, he even formulated his own religion, Laveyan Satanism. Sad isn't it? To know that hypocrisy led to the creation of an entire religion.
His belief is made very clear in the last of the 9 Satanic Statements (as an opposite to the Ten Commandments) "Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!"
It's a funny statement, but its the conclusion of a man who saw Christian hypocrisy, and created an entire religion to be opposite to Christianity. There are millions of Satanists around the world. Potential souls for Christ.
But let's not forget the last part of the Bible verse.
Proverbs 11:19 "The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered."
Knowledge will deliver the righteous. We need to know how to apply the knowledge of the word of God properly, attractively and lovingly. In the gospels, Jesus taught about many things, and but one thing He always blasted strongly was hypocrisy. For us, while people may not condemn us for our hypocrisy, they will observe us, and it will affect how they look at Christianity.
No one is perfect, and we never will be while we're here, but no one said we couldn't aim for that standard. Aren't we supposed to be trying to be more like Jesus?
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