Romans 2:12b-24
While you preach against stealing do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
It's not hard to see that there are hypocrites in the Church; there always have been and there always will be. It's also not hard to see that because of these two faced people many people are turned away from the Church; the name of God is blasphemed among them. Well, two-thousand years ago they were having the same problem; people (particularly the Jewish Christians) were preaching one thing and living in private like it wasn't true. When we say that Jesus is our reason for living and only full satisfaction, and then go around acting like He's not enough, what other response could we expect from them?
Yes, it's easy to see that there are hypocrites in the Church, but what's usually not so easy for us to see is that we are those hypocrites. Sure, we might no steal or commit adultery, but let's really analyze ourselves: How many times can we sing, "Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe" but then walk out and live like we owe Him nothing? When was the last time we said, "I want to seek Him first" and that dedication and passion actually last us more than a week? How many times do we say, "I was born again; I'm a new person" but act exactly like the old self of our past? No, there's no mistaking it; we are the hypocrites in Church; it is in part because of us that the unbelievers blaspheme the name of God.
There no mistaking it: we have a problem and we need to get it fixed. The American Church is drowning in self-obsession; we lack both passion and real commitment. It's time for us as Christians to really wake up! Let's fight for continued passion for Jesus! Let's stick with it even when it's hard and tiring! Let's sit up straight! We are the image bearers of God and the world is watching; and what they see in you and me will define what they think of God. Let's get our act straight and either walk like we talk, or talk like we walk.
While you preach against stealing do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
It's not hard to see that there are hypocrites in the Church; there always have been and there always will be. It's also not hard to see that because of these two faced people many people are turned away from the Church; the name of God is blasphemed among them. Well, two-thousand years ago they were having the same problem; people (particularly the Jewish Christians) were preaching one thing and living in private like it wasn't true. When we say that Jesus is our reason for living and only full satisfaction, and then go around acting like He's not enough, what other response could we expect from them?
Yes, it's easy to see that there are hypocrites in the Church, but what's usually not so easy for us to see is that we are those hypocrites. Sure, we might no steal or commit adultery, but let's really analyze ourselves: How many times can we sing, "Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe" but then walk out and live like we owe Him nothing? When was the last time we said, "I want to seek Him first" and that dedication and passion actually last us more than a week? How many times do we say, "I was born again; I'm a new person" but act exactly like the old self of our past? No, there's no mistaking it; we are the hypocrites in Church; it is in part because of us that the unbelievers blaspheme the name of God.
There no mistaking it: we have a problem and we need to get it fixed. The American Church is drowning in self-obsession; we lack both passion and real commitment. It's time for us as Christians to really wake up! Let's fight for continued passion for Jesus! Let's stick with it even when it's hard and tiring! Let's sit up straight! We are the image bearers of God and the world is watching; and what they see in you and me will define what they think of God. Let's get our act straight and either walk like we talk, or talk like we walk.