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 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