Hypocrites!

     When visiting a remote neighborhood, a pastor stopped at a house and asked the man who lived there to visit his church the next Sunday, mentioning at the same time that the man’s neighbor went to that church.  On hearing this, the man said he would never go to that church because he wanted nothing to do with a religion that could have a man like his neighbor in it.  In fact, he said, his neighbor was the worst neighbor he had ever had.  The pastor, seeing that the man had a piano in his house, asked the man’s little girl to play a piece by Beethoven that was lying on the piano.  The man said that Beethoven’s music was far too advanced for his daughter.  But the pastor insisted, and the little girl gave it a try.  Needless to say, she almost destroyed the piece.  After the little girl was finished, the pastor commented, “Boy, that Beethoven sure wasn’t much of a composer, was he?”  On hearing this, the man suddenly realized that he too, had been judging the music of Christian living by the player rather than by the composer. And yes, many people are prone to judge the church by one bad example or by a horrible experience. 
     Let’s be honest, life is full of bad apples.  But, everyone accepts the fact that apples in general are good so we continue enjoying them.  We don’t dispose all the apples for the sake of one rotten one.  That would be foolish.  We inspect, then toss out the bad and keep the good. Why can’t people do the same with Christianity?  I have heard many people use the cop out that they won’t go to church because it is full of hypocrites.  That’s about as lame as you can get.  Those same hypos fill our schools, businesses, recreational spots, restaurants and yet their presence does not hinder the people that are so concerned about the hypocrites.  Listen, just as we don’t judge apples by a few bad ones, neither do we judge the church by some hypocrites. 
     The dictionary defines a hypocrite as one who plays a part on the stage; a dissembler; a pretender.  In-other-words, he’s an actor who feigns to be another.  Some are better than others.  But my personal observation is that their acting is always short lived, because it is difficult for them to be something they are not.  Eventually a person lets his guard down and reveals what is under his mask.  Sometimes this revelation will surprise me, but it won’t cause me to abandon the church or to discontinue my fellowship.  That would be ridiculous.  To quit the church, because of some hypocrites, is about as foolish as throwing away my money because there are counterfeit dollars in town.  We must have more substance to us than that.  
     The Bible teaches us to be followers of Christ first and to keep our eyes on Him, because He’s the real deal: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2).  Don’t be deceived or discouraged by some hypocrites.  They are like a pin: pointed in one direction and headed in another.  Ouch!  For more info you can visit us online at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com.

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