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Do you
struggle to believe? Does Christianity seem to be full
of loop-holes and half-truths? Do doubts clutter your
mind? Do you need better answers for someone asking you
the tough questions? Join us as we take an objective
look at our culture’s biggest objections to faith…
Objection 1: Hypocrisy –
Why would anyone believe when church leaders and members
sin so much?
Objection 2: Exclusivity –
How can Jesus be the only way to heaven? Wasn't he just
a man
Objection 3: Inaccuracy –
Isn’t the Bible myth and full of contradictions?
Why would anyone trust this book?
Objection 4: Suffering –
How can a good God allow evil and suffering?
Objection
5: Evolution
Objection 5: Evolution (2)
Objection 1: Hypocrisy –
Why would anyone believe when church leaders and members
sin so much?
What's the
leading deterrent for going to church? hypocrisy. Who
needs to hang out with finger-pointing, bible-beating
believers? Does hypocrisy give us reason to reject the
Church? Does hypocrisy give us reason to reject God? How
can Christ followers respond?
View a great song...
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.phpviewkey=5ebfe99049a8a8e43ea2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grRnCSAzwuQ
Hypocrisy: Sin in church
members and leaders
What should be the greatest evidence for
God is not! Sadly, the church as a whole has a
horrible reputation in American culture. We are
known for sexual abuse of children and the condemnation
of homosexuals.
Hypocrisy Defined:
to
deceive
hyp·o·crite n - somebody
who gives a false appearance of having admirable
principles, beliefs, or feelings.
Kathryn
shared her story of marrying a pastor and serving with
him as chaplan assistants in the military. After
he was accused of having inappropriate relations with
married women he was counselling, he simply said this is
how God made him. He needed more than one partner
and disregarded God's Word. This sent Kathryn's
faith into a tail spin. It took years before she
would return to God.
Jesus, gives us this
challenge and summarizes much of what I hope for you to
understand today...
Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in
your own eye;
then you will see well enough to deal with the
speck in your friend’s eye. (Matthew 7:5
NLT)
1.
Is
it accurate to say Church is full of hypocrites?
a.
Yes, we, Christians tend to hide our sin
and try to appear more holy than we are. The church is
full of sinners
(Rom. 3:23 NIV)
b.
The church is for sinners to
grow/struggle together (Acts. 5:3-4, Gal. 2:13).
c.
We,
Christians are to openly acknowledge our tendency to
sin. (Acts 2:38) However, we have often been judgmental
of unbelievers, expecting them to live up to a moral
standard which we fail to live up to. (John 8)
d.
When
everyone is welcome, you can expect diverse
levels of maturity. Some people will have broken
addictions and become less sinful, at the same time they
may just be better at hiding their sin.
e.
“All hypocrites are sinners, but
not all sinners are hypocrites.” (Charles Meeks,
FaithFacts.org, also see
www.letusreason.org/Apolo13.htm
[He uses Isa. 9 out of context.)
This is an interesting point, but I don’t think any of
us completely avoids the sin of hypocrisy. Let me know
if you think you have avoided it.
2.
Does hypocrisy give us reason to reject God?
a.
No,
God did not promise a perfect community of believers,
but commanded us to pursue holiness.
“But
you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is
perfect.” (Mat. 5:48).
He
promised forgiveness, because he knows we fall short.
“He
is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that
everyone who believes in him will have their sins
forgiven through his name.” (Acts 10:43 NLT)
b.
God is not a hypocrite. He does what he
says. (For a debate on this with little theological
foundation
Click here
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071217183708AAOzYAo&show=7)
c.
No, to condemn sin is to
acknowledge a moral standard just as God does.
d.
It does give God reason
to reject us.
“I hate all your show and pretense—the
hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn
assemblies.” (Amos 5:21 NLT, see Rev. 3)
3.
Does hypocrisy give us reason to reject Church?
a.
No,
believers must keep gathering together. (Heb. 10:25)
b. No,
believers must mature (sanctify ourselves): 1 Peter 1-2
So think clearly and exercise
self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation
that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to
the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient
children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living
to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better
then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do,
just as God who chose you is holy… 1 So get rid of all
evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy,
jealousy, and all unkind speech. (1
Peter 1:13-15,2:1 NLT)
c. No,
we must disciple (sanctify others):
i.
We are instructed to
confront, correct, and rebuke. (Mat. 18:15, 2 Tim. 4:2)
ii.
Repeat offenders are
to be removed. (1 Tim. 1:20, 1 Cor. 5)
iii.
Jesus confronted evil
temple practices (Mat. 21:12…) and hypocrites (Mat.
15:7…)
d. At
the same time, unrepentant
leaders should not be followed. Leaders will sin, but
they should also be gently restored.
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin,
you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But
watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians
6:1 NLT)
You don’t follow or learn from such a
person, you instruct them.
How should we respond?
1. All:
Repent daily. Understand we all fail to do as we say
we will and that God is angered by our hypocrisy.
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
wickedness. (1 John 1:9 NLT)
2. Believers:
Nurture accountability relationships. Be a
better example.
Confess your sins to each other and pray
for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16
(NLT)
3. Unbelievers:
Confess and believe that Jesus Christ is your Leader and
Forgiver or at least keep seeking answers to your
doubts.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus
is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9 NLT)
If you are not ready to make a
decision to follow Christ, keep questioning. Don't
believe everything you hear, do the research and talk to
people you trust. I argued with believers for over
a year
Other
links
http://www.carm.org/40_objections/40-3.htm#_1_27
http://bibletools.org//index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/Nave/ID/2468/Hypocrisy.htm
http://bibletools.org//index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/CGG/ID/4649/Hypocrite.htm
http://bibletools.org//index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/Torrey/ID/297/Hypocrites.htm
http://www.faithfacts.org/search-for-truth/questions-of-christians/why-are-there-hypocrites-in-the-church
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