Is The Church Full of Hypocrites?

“The church is full of hypocrites” is the cry of many who have been disappointed by the church, never wanting to return. It is also a statement made by critics of Christianity who throw unwarranted jabs at the church. Before we come to a decision about whether the pews are overflowing with insincere people who are two-faced, let us first define hypocrisy.

What Is Hypocrisy?

The word hypocrisy originated in the Greek language as a theatrical term. One actor often played multiple rolls in the same play by disguising himself with a series of masks. The actor was called a “hypocrite” because he had two or more faces. The idea of a person being “two-faced” evolved, describing someone who said one thing and did another.

Hypocrisy is a front – it is a person who pretends to be more righteous than he is. A hypocrite lives a lie; he tries to make the outside appear better than the inside. It involves deception, dishonesty, and trickery by a person that is a fraud or a con. Why does the hypocrite live his life as a charade? He seeks praise and approval from others or has a desire to be well-liked.

Is Hypocrisy Serious?

Yes! When the deception of a hypocrite is exposed, many people are hurt, disappointed, and disheartened. There are a large number of people in the world who want nothing to do with God, Jesus, or the church because they have been deceived or misled by Christians. A hypocrite not only can cause the loss of his own trustworthiness but the integrity of others he associates himself with is at stake (i.e. church).

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” (Mohandas Gandhi) Gandhi rejected Christianity partly because he suffered at the hands of ruthless people calling themselves Christians. Hypocrisy can cause painful damage and the effects of it can last a long time.

Jesus took a stern position with regards to the sin of hypocrisy (Matthew 23. The teachers of the law and Pharisees appeared holy, religious, devout, and beautiful on the outside, but inside there was the greatest measure of corruption. Those who would have others believe that they are passionate for the commands of God are those whom Jesus refers to as being full of hypocrisy.

27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:27-28)

Are All Preachers Hypocrites?

Like any other sin, there are preachers who fall into the sin of hypocrisy. Pastors are often singled out as being the most hypocritical of all people, “practice what you preach”. Undoubtedly there is no preacher who practices perfectly what he preaches. We must keep in mind that a pastor has been called by God to preach the truth from the Word of God. If he could only preach on the subjects he has mastered, he would have very little to preach about. When a pastor is delivering a sermon, he is proclaiming the Word of God, and it is directed to not only the congregation, but to himself as well.

Is The Church Full of Hypocrites?

“It’s nice to know that God has rounded up all the hypocrites and put them in church buildings — at least on Sunday mornings — so that all the people in the world who have pristine motives and clear consciences don’t have to put up with them.” (John Roberts)

What are the reasons behind the accusation?

The words “sinner” and “hypocrite” are frequently confused. A person will observe a Christian sinning, and then label him a hypocrite. The assumption is that a person who claims to be a Christian never sins, “Christians aren’t supposed to sin; don’t they claim to be perfect?” In reality, the church is full of sinners. In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

For a Christian to be a Christian, he/she must first be a sinner, recognize sin, publicly acknowledge sin, and trust in Christ alone for the redemption of sin (Romans 3:23; Proverbs 20:9; Romans 6:23; Acts 20:21; Acts 3:19; Romans 5:8; John 3:16; John 14:6).

The Christian church is one of the few organizations in the world that requires a public acknowledgment of sin as a condition for membership. In one sense the church has fewer hypocrites than any institution because by definition the church is a haven for sinners. If the church claimed to be an organization of perfect people then her claim would be hypocritical. But no such claim is made by the church. There is no slander in the charge that the church is full of sinners. Such a statement would only compliment the church for fulfilling her divinely appointed task. (R.C. Sproul, Reason to Believe, p. 78-79)

Most Bible believing Christians who truly understand the Gospel will say with the apostle Paul, “I am the worst of sinners.” They are sinful; they recognize their sin, confess their sin to God and actively seek to become more Christ-like. To call a Christian who is struggling with sin a hypocrite is unfair and a wrong assumption.

Is The Church Empty of Hypocrites?

The second reason the church is accused of being full of hypocrites is because there are, indeed, hypocrites in the church. The church may not be full of hypocrites, but there are some Christians who are guilty of the sin of hypocrisy. Christians are guilty of all kinds of sin and are not above pretending to be more righteous than they are.

However, not everyone who attends church is a Christian. In the same way, not everyone who professes to be a Christian is a true believer. In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus predicted that the church will always have a mixture of true believers and false. Hypocrisy of faith in the church happens when a person makes an insincere profession of faith and joins the church under false pretensions. They may go to church to maintain a certain social status or because their family and friends attend. Word of mouth is a great marketing tool and some people may attend church to build customer contacts with the goal of increasing sales or promoting their business.

Some “unbelievers” are church members not because they willfully and deceitfully give a pretense of faith but because the church neither requires nor makes clear a decisive confession of faith. In their zeal to gain membership or be all-inclusive in spirit, some churches ignore their own standards for membership. In this case it is not the individual “unbeliever” who is being hypocritical but the church itself who misleads or misinforms the applicant for membership. (R.C. Sproul, Reason to Believe, p. 79-80)

Jesus Christ Was Not a Hypocrite

If we are honest with ourselves, we are all hypocrites to some degree – any time we present ourselves as better than we are, it is a form of hypocrisy. We must remember that the purpose of the church is not to bring praise or glory to its members; the church exists to praise, honor, worship, and obey Jesus Christ.

The ultimate question of hypocrisy must be focused on Christ. Don’t judge Christianity or the church by what Christians do, but by what Christ did. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth as a man (living without sin) to secure the salvation of mankind.

If you have been let down by a Christian, pastor or church member, perhaps it is time to find another church, but your faith should not rest in man. When considering the eternal destination of your soul, don’t let the actions of sinful man determine your commitment or distract you from the Gospel message. Jesus Christ was not a hypocrite, in Him there is no deception, no dishonesty; in Him there is only truth.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3)

Excerpts taken from “The Church Is Full of Hypocrites”

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S-U-PP-O-RT Your Missionaries

In my last post, I briefly discussed the importance of supporting our missionaries around the globe in response to the fact that not everyone has heard the Gospel message. This past Sunday, Frank Mills challenged us in the same way and gave us a list of practical ways we can get involved in the lives of our missionaries. Frank, and his wife Karen, served the Lord for eight years in Kenya, and now God has called them to France, where they will be developing youth worker training for local churches. I was challenged by Frank’s message, and my hope is we will all respond with prayer and support for God’s servants.

S – Support the missionaries from your church family – get involved in their ministry and invest in their lives. Most churches, like Cornerstone, support several missionaries – Frank suggested that you select one or possibly two, so you can focus on developing your relationship with them.

U – Try to understand everything you can about the missionary you have selected – on a personal level and the ministry they are involved with.

PP – Passionately pray for your missionary. Frank said our prayers should not be something like this, “God, I pray for the missionaries, bless their ministry, amen.” When we grow in our relationship with our missionaries, and understand everything we can about their lives and ministry – we will be able to go to the Lord with specific prayer requests concerning them. We also need to pray for their safety; an American abroad in our world today is at a higher risk with the increasing amount of terrorist activity around the globe.

O – Take ownership of the ministry in the life of your missionary. With the same passion, fire, and commitment we dedicate ourselves in our local ministry that God has called us to (teaching, choir, usher, etc.), we need to apply to the ministry of our missionaries. We can share in their blessings and in their challenges. Send care packages, birthday and anniversary cards, emails, letters, and have them over for dinner when they are home. Subscribe to email newsletters if they have one available.

RT – Give your missionary all the recovery time needed once he or she returns home from the field. Our missionaries are in a battle – for souls, Frank quoted Ephesians 6:12-13, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Matthew 10:16 – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” When they return home, we need to give them time to rest, instead of immediately trying to schedule them for speaking engagements or simply having them over for dinner. Frank said, “Let them tell you when they are ready.” Frank mentioned that he was at a missions conference in Colorado and he was surprised at how many missionaries admitted being on anti-depressants or burnt out. You can read about some of the things the apostle Paul went through on his missionary journeys in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.

Our missionaries are in a battle, they have been called by God to do God’s work. We need to S-U-PP-O-RT them in every way that we can – financial aid, specific prayer, taking ownership of the ministry they are involved in, consistent and meaningful communication – so we can get to know them and encourage them in their ministry. As we get involved in their lives, we will be encouraged in our walk with the Lord by hearing stories of how God is changing the hearts of people around the world through His people – our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Frank and Karen Mills – Serving the Lord in France

Daily Prayer Topics:

• The Lord’s care over their sons, Stephen and Christopher, and other family members.
• That their family would grow stronger and more dedicated in their walks with God.
• Personal spiritual growth and daily time with God.
• Physical, spiritual, emotional and mental wellness.
• Spiritual awakening in France and Western Europe (Frank noted that out of 60 million people in France – there are only 600,000 Evangelical Christians).
• Development of youth worker training in France and Western Europe.
• Language acquisition for Frank in his study of French.
• Guidance for Karen in the development of her ministry in the local church as the Lord leads.
• That God would in all ways receive glory for all that is accomplished in His Name.

Psalm 34:3 – “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together.”

Recommended reading to increase your knowledge and awareness of missions:

The Book of Acts
Let the Nations Be Glad! by John Piper
Evangelical Missions Quarterly

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What happens to the person who has never heard of Christ?

In our world today, with all the advancements in modern communication media, it is hard to believe that someone has never heard of Christ. Unfortunately, there are people in our world that are living in less privileged situations than us. To most of these people, not having a computer, the Internet or TV is the least of their concerns. They battle disease and malnourishment and wonder where their next meal is going to come from. I went on a short term mission trip to Haiti that was eye-opening to me and I will never again take for granted the daily provisions that God has blessed me with.

As Christians, we are not only concerned about their physical well-being – we are also concerned about their spiritual well-being. Therefore, we ask the question: what happens to the person who has never heard of Christ? This question is one of the most frequently asked apologetic questions of our time. Why? The skeptics of Christianity ask this question in response to the Christian doctrine of salvation and the teaching that Jesus is the only way to God. “Religious” people ask this question as well because they believe there are many different roads that lead to heaven – by going to church, being a good person, etc.

In my last post, I gave an example of this in a video clip from the Oprah Winfrey Show. In the clip, the discussion comes up about Jesus being the only way to God, which Oprah replies, “there couldn’t possibly be just one way.” What is her argument? What about the person that lives in some remote part of the earth and never hears the name of Jesus, and they live with a loving heart – the way Jesus would want them to live – but they never hear the name of Jesus – and if Jesus is the only way to God – they can’t get into heaven? (note: I am not picking on Oprah, I just happened to find this clip from her show).

The reality is that Oprah is only one of many that make this argument. How do we respond?

The Doctrine of Salvation

The Christian doctrine of salvation teaches that if a person wants to enter into a right relationship with God and have eternal life in heaven, they must receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 3:16; John 5:24).

Christians have hope of eternal life in heaven because they heard (Romans 10:13-14) the Gospel message, and by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), they believed (Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-4, 8-9).

What happens to the person who has never heard of Christ? Or never read the Bible? Where does that person stand with God? If Jesus is the only way to God (heaven), are they going to hell?

Sin is Universal

First we must understand that a person is not innocent because they have never heard of Christ or never read the Bible. Sin is universal – sin entered the world through Adam and Eve and was passed on to the entire human race (Romans 5:12; Genesis 3:1-7). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because of our sin, we are guilty before a holy, just, and righteous God, and we deserve death (Proverbs 20:9; Romans 3:10-11; Romans 6:23). Eternal death (hell) is God’s condemnation and judgment on mankind because of our sin.

God is Just

God is just in condemning sinners to hell because He is the Creator of life, Sustainer of Life, and the perfect Judge (Psalm 89:14). In The Justice of God, A.W. Pink writes:

“The justice of God is the justice of One who is both omniscient and omnipotent, so that it is impossible we should conceal from Him our offenses or escape from the execution of His sentence. God is possessed of both infinitely complete knowledge of every detail of our lives and of the most absolute power to enforce His verdicts…In human affairs justice is simply the giving to everyone his due: but such a rule cannot possibly be applied to the Most High, for the simple reason that He owes His creatures nothing.”

We can now answer the question, what happens to the person who has never heard of Christ? Is a person punished eternally by God for not believing in a Christ of whom he never heard?

The answer is NO! Why? In Reason to Believe, R.C. Sproul gives us an explanation, “If God is just, that cannot be the case. If God were to punish a person for not responding to a message he had no possibility of hearing, that would be a gross injustice; it would be radically inconsistent with God’s own revealed justice. We can rest assured that no one is ever punished for rejecting Christ if they’ve never heard of Him” (p. 49-50).

Big sigh of relief, right? Only if you assume that rejecting Christ is the only offense that mankind has committed against God. What if a person rejects God? Is rejecting God the Father just as serious as rejecting God the Son? The biblical response to this question is found in Romans 1:18-21:

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

• The Wrath of God. God’s wrath is in the present, it is happening now, and is constantly being revealed. Since we have all have sinned, we are “by nature objects of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3).
• God has made Himself known. God has made himself known (general revelation); man has knowledge of God – His eternal power and divine nature – is evident to all. Why is the knowledge of God clear to every living creature? Paul tells us the reason in verse 19, “because God has made it plain to them.” What is general revelation? General revelation (or natural revelation) is God making Himself known through His creation. From the beginning (Genesis 1:1) of creation, and throughout history, God has revealed Himself to man (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-21; Romans 2:14-15; Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:22-31).
• God has revealed Himself in creation. How does God reveal His invisible qualities? God’s eternal power and divine nature, “what may be known about God” (v. 19), have always been “understood from what has been made” (v. 20). Out of nothing, God made the universe and everything in it (Genesis 1:1), and it is by His creation He has made himself known to man (Psalm 19:1-6), “so that men are without excuse” (v. 20).
• Men are without excuse…for knowing God exists. Since God has clearly made himself known to all, no man can plead ignorance; he is without excuse.
• What truth is being suppressed?
  What is known about God (verse 19)
  The revelation of God in creation (verse 20)
  God’s eternal power and deity (verse 20)

Man’s response to the truth

In verse 21, we find the importance and application of the apostle Paul’s teaching on the general revelation of God in Romans 1:18-21.

Men are without excuse…for glorifying God and giving Him thanks

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21).

The truth we suppress is our response to the knowledge we have about God, which is evident to all. God has revealed Himself, His eternal power and deity, to mankind through His creation of the heavens and the earth. In Romans 1:19-21, “we learn that the knowledge “gets through” and finds its mark. God does not merely provide an available objective revelation of Himself that may or may not be subjectively received. We read, “They knew God.” Man’s problem is not that he doesn’t know God but that he refuses to acknowledge what he knows to be true” (R.C. Sproul, Reason to Believe, p. 52).

God is our Creator, He is worthy of our devotion, honor, praise, and thanksgiving (Psalm 150:2; Matthew 6:33). Instead of gloriying and thanking God, we suppress the truth by our wickedness; by sinning against our Creator (Romans 1:25, 28-32).

So here is the truth: God exists. God is eternal and infinitely powerful. God is the giver of every good gift. And therefore our reason for being – our chief duty, the end for which we were created, and the commandment written on every heart – is to display the glory of this great God every day, hour by hour, as we live in the exultation over his bounty to us. (John Piper, The Wrath of God Against Ungodliness and Unrighteousness).

Moral Law

Not only has God revealed the work of His hands in creation, in Romans 2:14-15, Paul says that God has written His law on all people’s hearts. God has put in all people an understanding of right from wrong; of what is good and what is evil.

(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) – Romans 2:14-15

That there exists in the human minds and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity, we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued all men with some idea of his Godhead, the memory of which he constantly renews and occasionally enlarges, that all to a man being aware that there is a God, and that he is their Maker, may be condemned by their own conscience when they neither worship him nor consecrate their lives to his service. (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion)

The Answer

What happens to the person who has never heard of Christ? Because He is just, God will not punish a person for not responding to a message they have never heard. What happens to the person who rejects God? They will be punished for the rejection of the Father; they are without excuse, and “those who do such things deserve death” (Romans 1:32). Everyone is guilty and deserves the wrath of God. God is the Creator of life, Sustainer of life, and Judge of life. God has revealed Himself to man clearly by His creation and the requirements of His law have been written in man’s heart (Romans 1:18-21; Romans 2:14-15).

Our Mission

As Christians, it is with a sincere heart that we answer the question of the destiny of those who have never heard of Christ. It is out of obedience to our Lord and Savior that we should respond to this question by our actions, and not just words (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:16-17).

The mission of the church is to preach the Gospel to all people in every nation. We need to support our missionaries, pray for them, and visit them (short term missions). We need to be praying for the lost, that they would hear the Gospel and respond in faith – to the glory of God. Amen.

ONEVERSE – Bible Translation Project
two 28 is currently sponsoring the translation of 100 verses for the Hawu people of West Timor. $20/verse. More information is available in class or go to oneverse.org

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
– Romans 10:13-15

For further study, read

• What Happens To The Person Who Has Never Heard of Christ?

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