June 27 - Romans 2

HYPOCRISY
²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

   The world loves to mock Christian inconsistency.  Whenever a religious figure "falls from grace" by living contrary to God's law, there will often be someone to point it out and deride all Christians as hypocrites.

   This, of course, is true.  We ARE all hypocrites since we are all sinners who cannot possibly keep God's law perfectly. Inconsistent behavior will constantly dog us, as hard as we try to live by God's standards.

   At the same time, though, it is a gross stereotype to try and paint all Christians as unloving, judgmental, and full of pride because of one person who covered over a gross of heinous sin.  It would be the same as me saying that all people of a certain race, gender, or persuasion are ALWAYS a certain way or do certain things.

   Because of this, it is offensive to me when the media or the unbeliever choose to make caricatures of Christians which do not represent the bulk of Christ's followers.  In my ministry I do not choose, ever, to brand those who differ from me with false stereotypes.  To do so, in my mind, is racist, sexist, homophobic, bigoted, unfair, or any other number of negative words I could use.

  It is my prayer that the same courtesy would be extended to my brothers and sisters in the faith.  Please remember that the only one who has ever been worthy of such scrutiny and standards was Jesus Himself.  And He passed the test.  No inconsistency in Him.  No hypocrisy.  Just pure, perfect, love, grace, and compassion.