“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (I John 1:8).
The story is circulated about a pastor who was once approached about hypocrites attending his church. His somewhat wry remark was as follows — “There’s always room for one more!”
I’ll be the first to admit that our churches are full of hypocrites — unfortunately! A hypocrite is one who deceives by acting piously. He’s pretender or actor.
Perhaps you’re offended by being placed in the same class as these pious pretenders. After all, we must readily admit that there are some
genuine, for real, God fearing Christians in some of our churches. They have been cleansed through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and are children of God, albeit imperfect. It is to them that Peter writes, “But in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
But why pick on the genuinely born-again believer? Surely there are many more hypocrites who are not Christians. After all, isn’t it rather
hypocritical to hide behind such accusation of others rather than take a close look at our own heart?! We quickly note the speck in the eyes of others and totally ignore the plank in ours (Matthew 7:1-6)!
Ultimately, it doesn’t really amount to a whole lot what we think of
others. Some day soon we will all have to give account of ourselves
individually before God, for every knee shall bow before Him. And that’s not going to be a Sunday-school picnic! The only way to escape His wrath is to confess our sin to God and place our trust in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (I Thessalonians 1:10). Have you?
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