How many know a hypocrite? Anyone sitting by one?
I’m sure you know #1 complaint from non-Christians about Xians—Hypocrites! We Talked about this theme WWJUndo. Today we are going at it from a Different angle.
Word hypocrite used before life of Christ in Greek theaters
Stage actor—One who hides behind a mask.
28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matt 23:28 NLT
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Buddy at Church: Acts normal—Eats chips/dip—Prays—Cheating on wife.
Christian kid—They are part of our IGNITE Youth Program, claims to be Christian. But they Parties weekends. Cheats on a test during the week.
Boss office: Spiritual talk. Treats workers horribly—Lacks integrity.
How do we respond? What do we do?
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WHY ARE THEY ACTING LIKE THAT?
First of all… when we understand Why they are acting like that, it Helps us determine what we do and how we repsond.
1) Maybe they don’t really know God.
4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. I John 2:4
They Go to church but that Doesn’t mean they have been made new in Christ. Jesus said—Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will Enter—Only the one who does His will.
2) Maybe they don’t know better yet.
…I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 1 Cor 3:1
They Don’t need Correcting—They need Instructing!
When we have new Christians in our midst, which if we don’t there is a problem. When we do, we need to help them understand how to live their life in Christ. You know when we encounter them at a bar plastered and drunk, we might take them aside and encourage them to lay off the drinking.
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3) Maybe they know better but still disobey God.
16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 1 Pet 2:16 NLT
Think they are above the rules. They Rationalize and Justify it.
They might be Addicted porn and rationalize it by saying it's Not hurting anyone (which is a complete lie) or try to justify it saying that his Wife wasn’t meeting his need.
Another person might always be shopping … They will justify it by saying they are Not materialistic they just Love nice things.
Here’s the thing… Jesus had all the freedom in the world. He could have chosen to use his freedom to live however he wanted to live and get involved in all sorts of things. But he didn’t, you might say, yes, but he was God… I would respond to you that he was also 100% human and dealt with all of the desires and temptations that you and I do, but he didn’t chose to go down that road.
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The thing about this last group is that, it isn’t that they don’t know any better… They do. They are deliberately choosing to go a different way.
They might say…
It's None of our business… Is it our business? It absolutely is our business. If they are claiming to be a Christian and living a deliberately sinful life… then it is our job to confront them in love and help them understand how they are making it difficult for others to see Christ when they chose to live that way… especially when they know better.
I encountered a friend who told me that because he had placed his faith in Christ and because he knew Christ would never let go of him, then he was free to live however he wanted to live. That is an abuse of the theological point called Perseverance of the saints (also referred to as eternal security or as once saved,always saved) is a teaching that asserts that once persons are truly "born of God" or "regenerated" by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, nothing in heaven or earth "shall be able to separate (them) from the love of God.” John Wesley one of our founders fought hard against this because as in my friends case, it leads to a spiritual laziness. Wesley believe that while nothing on earth could remove your salvation from you, you yourself are always able to walk away from God.
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Prophets, Paul and Peter, Jesus they all confronted hypocrisy.
This is Something we need to get right. When confrontation goes Wrong it can do harm not only to others, but also to yourself. So we need to learn how to confront others in a prayerful way… let’s look at 3 things we need to pray for when we confront…
PRAYERFUL CONFRONTATION
GOD, HELP ME CONFRONT WITH THE GOAL OF RESTORATION.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Gal 6:1
…if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. Gal 6:1 NLT
We need to See ourselves as a Guide Not a judge.
-Your goal is not to be right
-Your goal is to help someone else be right w/God.
At our Heart is LOVE for the other person! (Do not be mean or prideful)
Consider Jesus and woman in adultery-- There were all of these Pharisees who had literally dragged a woman out of a house who was in the act of adultery. Most likely she was probably unclothed and in public. The accused her of her sin and asked Jesus if they should stone her as tradition dictated… But Jesus got down in the dirt and started writing the sins of the accusers on the ground… then he said… “Those who are without sin cast the first stone.” When everone had left Jesus told the woman… “Who is left here to accuse you.” “She said no one!” He said, “Then neither will I. But go and sin no more!”—He handled it with truth and grace.
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Ask God to help you Confront with the goal of restoration
GOD, HELP ME CONFRONT CAREFULLY.
…If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Gal 6:1
When you are confronting—You’re vulnerable to pride. Pride comes before a fall!
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Cor 10:12
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How do we confront carefully with heart to restore?
Jesus taught us—Matt 18
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If your brother or sister sins against you…….Not confronting non-Christians!
Not asking NON-Xians to live according to Christian standards.
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Go to them—just between the two of you!
Doesn’t say, “Call them out on Twitter.”
Going to the mall and shouting, “Sister Joanie is living in sin.”
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Between two of you: Implies relationship!
If your brother or sister listens—Won them over.
If they don’t—Bring support (one or two others)
If not—take it to church—if they continue—redefine relationship.
Treat them as you would a tax collector.
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GOD, HELP ME SEE WHEN I’M THE HYPOCRITE.
Hard to see in the mirror… Blind fools.
David committed adultery with Bathsheba then he Murdered Uriah Bathsheba’s husband so that he wouldn’t find out that she was pregnant with David’s baby.
Nathan the prophet comes to confront David and tells a story to David about a man who did just what David did… this was David’s response.
5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! 2 Sam 12:5-7
Ever heard the phrase… “Thou doth protest too much?” Whenever you are most condemning is often a reflection of where you are most vulnerable.
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If you are critical of how people spend their Money— then maybe Money is in your heart.
If you are Critical of the way people dress— Maybe there is Lust in your heart.
Careful when I become the Speck Inspector. Make sure that when you start seeing a Speck in someone else’s eye that you don’t find a Log in your own.
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You know the thing about Sheep is that they Wander—They are often looking for the next Bright shining thing. We are just like those sheep. Hear what God’s word says here in James…
19 if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
But remember… We don’t fix people. Christ does.
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