HYPOCRISY shame on you

[Amazon 7]

This is just SOOOOOOO Topical

http://www.preachersfiles.com/hypocrisy/001404.htm

Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines hypocrisy as an "act of playing a part on stage; a feigning to be what one is not; the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion." A hypocrite is one who fakes virtues or qualities he does not have.


The story is told about a father complaining about the amount of time his family spent in front of the television. His children watched too many cartoons and neglected their homework. His wife preferred watching soap operas as opposed to doing housework. What is his solution? He declares, "As soon as the football season is over, I'm going to pull the plug." Hypocrisy! Someone once said, "Hypocrisy is like a pin. It is pointed in one direction, and yet headed in another."


One of the saddest things about hypocrisy is that many in the Lord's church have succumbed to deadly playacting. Some Christians try to outwardly appear faithful and concerned about the Lord's work, but inwardly they are worldly - they are only pretenders. Jesus said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matt. 23:27-28). Jesus said we must beware of hypocrisy (Luke 12:1). Paul speaks of hypocrisy when he says, "They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Tit. 1:16).

In our present day many are hypocrites in worship. Our Lord declared, "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men" (Matt. 15:7-9).

Many are Christians are hypocrites when they see only the faults of others and refuse to see their own. "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother's eye" (Luke 6:41-42).

One can be hypocritical when they try to make laws where God has not made them. Our Lord warned, "But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?" (Luke 13:15-16).

There are many other ways that one can be a hypocrite that are just too numerous to mention. But remember this, hypocrites are great pretenders. Thus, let us be warned, for the Great and Almighty Judge said that hypocrites will not go to heaven (Matt. 24:51)!

[ExAFO 0]

How does this apply to fluffy Manx kittens?

Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.

[wmw999 2,602]

That's true of all of us. No matter what the color. I saw a great quote the other day. Something to the effect of "People are all far more alike than different. However, it's much easier to describe the differences." It's why countries (including the US) often do such a kickass job of responding to real, generalized crises, like the 9/11 attacks, the Blitzkrieg, etc.

The thing is that it's so much easier to point at what others are doing wrong than it is to fix what one is doing wrong. And, for that matter, you feel like you're more likely to do some good -- after all, each of us is just one person. The thing is that if we spend all our time bitching about others, we're probably not fixing them, and we're definitely not fixing ourselves.

Something about that whole mote in the brother's eye. One gets used to looking around the beam in one's own.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[steveorino 7]

I once told my late father I was looking to join a perfect church. He told me if I found it, to not join it as it would no longer be perfect. Needless to say he knew me pretty well, and I have long since stopped looking for the perfect church. I figure if the disciples were at times hypocritical, I am as well. Hard to find someone who isn't. Such is the nature of man.

steveOrino

[ExAFO 0]

Would someone please remember the fluffy Manx kittens??? Oh, the humanity!!

Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.