November 17, 2011 with 10 Comments

472.

Afraid of Hypocrisy

Every time I ask my nephew for blog topics he gives me the same answer.

Blog about hypocrisy.

I just roll my eyes and tell him to give me another topic.

I hate hypocrisy. I hate thinking about it. I hate talking about it.

I’ve wondered why I hate it so much. Maybe because deep down in my heart I know who I really am. Maybe because deep down in my heart I’m afraid of being found out, afraid of being discovered.

I talk about fear, but when I shut my eyes I see the shadow of fear closing in.

I talk about not worrying about what people say, but in the quiet of the night, I worry, I wonder, I wait.

I talk about money and materialism, but inside I see the pull towards more stuff, better stuff.

I talk about sex, but day after agonizing day my mind hurts for the battle for purity.

A couple of weeks ago I taught about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. They were killed for their hypocrisy. I’ve had a hard time swallowing that lesson. Why did they die, while I still live? Why were they found out, while many remain hidden?

Who is this God we serve? Who is this God we follow? How does He choose? Who does He spare?

I’m afraid of hypocrisy, but I’m brave enough to admit it.

Jesus hated hypocrisy. He overturned the tables in the temple because of religious hypocrisy. Later in Matthew 23, He looked the scribes and the pharisees straight in the eyes and ripped them to shreds for being hypocrites.

They still didn’t get it.

They rolled their eyes and ignored Him.

They got together and planned to kill Him.

They were the ones who deserved to die, but He hung on a cross instead.

They were the ones who deserved to be punished, but He suffered instead.

He died for the hypocrites.

He died for me.

Skeptics have pointed their fingers at Christians for centuries and accused them of hypocrisy. “You’re not who you say you are”, they yell. “You don’t do what you tell others to do”, they complain. “We’d follow your Jesus if you weren’t such a hypocrite”, they whisper.

And they still don’t get it.

It’s not about my ability to behave my way out of hypocrisy. It’s not about my proving to you that I’m exactly who you think I am.

Freedom is about understanding that every ounce of my hypocrisy has been nailed on that tree for good.

Don’t get me wrong – I still hate hypocrisy.

But I’m not as afraid anymore.

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  • Milo

    Amen. Always look to the cross. Not what I did but what He did for me. Slowy though He changes us by His Spirit.

  • Martie

    I love that we have the freedom to admit our struggles to one another. Instead of being threatening, talking about our battles with things such as hypocrisy can be a blessing to others. Thank you for your transparency, and for facing your fear of addressing hypocrisy!

  • Karen H.

    Hallelujah! You not only hit this nail on the head, you obliterated it! Thanks, Lina. When we humbly acknowledge our sins, failures, and struggles, we rightly put the focus on the Savior. It’s not about the flawed recipient of grace, it’s about the perfect Grace Giver….the incredible, amazing truth of the gospel for both salvation and everyday life. Praise the Lord! Gal 5:1 — It is for freedom that Christ has set us free……

    • Kristi

      What I was feeling and wanted to say but didn’t know it till you said it for me. Thank you for expressing that SO well, Karen! :)

  • Melissa

    WOW! Just wow. “It’s not about my ability to behave my way out of hypocrisy. It’s not about my proving to you that I’m exactly who you think I am.” that’s so encouraging
    It’s not about my ability to behave my way out of hypocrisy. It’s not about my proving to you that I’m exactly who you think I am.
    Freedom is about understanding that every ounce of my hypocrisy has been nailed on that tree for good.” this is so encouraging for my immediate struggle. Thanks Lina <3

  • Amber

    Amen! I don’t know I every looked at hypocrisy that way and to know that the Lord forgives and he really truly loves us. I think you said it best with “I’m not afraid anymore”

  • Gina

    Yes you said it and it’s True – But Im Not As As Afraid Anymore. THANK-YOU! :) :) :) very fitting somehow

    • Stacey

      WOW – What an AWESOME way to put that about hypocrisy. I LOVE getting your blog and look forward to it each day. All of them have spoken to me but this one really touched me. This is very beautiful and well said :)

  • Hollie

    Great blog post! Thanks for being so open and honest.

  • Julie

    I can relate so well with your post. I mocked hypocrisy until God started gently revealing to me my own. I am thankful He did not show me all of it at once – I would have crumbled. This has been my prayer for my growth in this area…..
    Search me O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grevious way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps 139: 22-24
    How deep is His love! I was the one who deserved to die, but He hung on the cross instead.
    Thank you for this post.