Sadly, religion seems like a magnet for phony people -- ironically, most hypocrites are also judgmental. I can’t stomach fake christians because Hypocrisy provides people an excuse for unbelief in a world already struggling to believe.
Stage actors in ancient Greece (called hypocrites) wore masks when they performed; “hypocrite” literally meant “An interpreter from underneath.” Jesus took a technical term hundreds of years old and repurposed it when He coined “hypocrite” to describe “supposed” people of faith who hid their misbehavior behind the trappings of their religion.
How do we avoid being hypocrites? Don’t pretend to be something you aren’t and embrace vulnerability, taking into account Eccl 7:20, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”
I used to worry about what other church members thought of me, as in, if they knew I wasn’t an infallible perfect christian, then they wouldn’t want me around -- they certainly wouldn’t have me as their preacher. When we project a fake version of ourselves just to be accepted, that mission fails miserably.
Pretending we are perfect is a lie, namely because we aren’t. Also, pretending keeps people away who are honest with their own fallibilities, we are effectively saying, “You won’t fit in here,” then they can’t see a place at the Table for themselves. Furthermore, when we pretend to be perfect and our imperfections eventually ooze out, it drives people away, destroying the reputation of the church.
Jesus clarified His mission: Reach sinners, “And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mk 2:15-17)
By the way, we all sin.
When James wrote, “Confess your sins” it wasn’t as if church members could erase each other's sins -- James wasn’t suggesting we would be forgiven by God by confessing to another human. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16) James was encouraging us to take off our “church mask” and to be vulnerable, to basically “keep it real.”
In other words, relationships are strengthened and people live better lives when they accept mutual accountability and share their struggles instead of hiding them. No one is perfect, yet for some reason too many christians attempt to project a vision of perfection, much to the detriment of the Body.
I’m not suggesting that we make excuses, forfeit our integrity, cast off all restraint, give up trying our best to live up to our Biblical standards, or that we cease pursuing spiritual maturity & God’s transformation. I am saying, we don’t have the ability to be 100% flawless in this lifetime, it’s healthier to come to grips with our struggle and simply be honest about it than it is to hide behind a mask -- we need to be comfortable in our own skin and smash our church masks.
Originally published 5/27/23 in the Kingsport Times News:
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