Hypocrisy

By Synthia Robinson-Pack

Hypocrisy seems to be prevalent in our society. Think about it for a minute. How much hypocrisy do you see also? It bothers me. I see a lack of love and concern for others and it hurts. I see an abandonment of those who need help and it upsets me. I see hypocrisy with arrogance and religious pride. I see selfishness, greed and lust. I witness judgment and condemnation on all levels. I see "religiousness" and manmade rules that destroy and push down others. I do not see the Spirit of Christ within the Church. It hurts me, angers me and frightens me.

I see it in others and I see it in myself. I especially do not like the faults, weaknesses and failures in myself. How can I write to encourage others if I cannot be more, do more, pray more, love more. . . . How can I minister to others with anger, resentment and disillusionment within? These questions, issues and distortions have held me down like shackles and heavy chains. How can I be Christlike when I cannot love?

In watching the actions, motives and failures of others and myself, I have taken my eyes off the Perfect One. The One who breathes hope, love, peace and joy. I have been trying to serve a religious God and His people who accept me as one of them, the "religious ones," instead of the redeemed ones. I have tried to follow ministers and church leaders of individual churches and not followed only the Shepherd of All. I have sought approval from the church instead of seeking His approval. I have felt shame, fear, anger, disillusionment and distrust instead of boldness, faith, peace, hope and trust in Him. I have placed my sights on the wavering opinions and values of man instead of keeping my eyes on the Eternal, Righteous One. I have become broken instead of humble. I have become religious instead of righteous. I have become weak instead of strong.

There is hope though. Hope that lives and breathes and creates life within. That hope comes from the realization that simply because someone thinks he has the Truth, does not necessarily make it so. This distorted image I have envisioned is not Truth. It is a lie - created by Satan and propagated by men and women, even by Christians.

What can I do to recapture Truth? It is actually quite simple. I must put everything aside - my personal opinions and that of others, fears of failure and fears of success, judgement of the hearts, mind and actions of others, expectations that I have for myself and others and those that others have for themselves and me - and go to throne of God in prayer. Simply bow down to His Holiness and Righteousness and feel His Love, Acceptance and Peace. Throw away every weight that so easily besets me and just come before Him in Truth and Humility. Not the lies that we call Truth or the proud arrogance that we pretend to be humility. The Truth that He knows us with all of our weaknesses, failures and faults and yet still loves us - enough to send His Only Son to suffer for our atonement. We must come into His Presence with the humility which is borne through knowing that we have nothing good within us, except that which He has placed there.

Only then can we find the peace, love, acceptance and hope that we desperately need in these tumultuous days. Then we will realize that God does indeed love us - you and me personally, individually, intimately. It is then that we will discover the joy of the Lord. In His Joy and Presence, we will then find ourselves becoming the man or woman of God that He intends for us to be and the kind, loving, good person that we truly yearn to be. In His Presence, we will find Him and then ourselves.

Amen.

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