Living Authentically: Avoiding Christian Hypocrisy

Ya’ll know I tend to write what is on my heart. It’s what helps me drive the content I send each morning. Well, a couple weeks ago I got frustrated and said something pretty “off color” and it really ate me up for a few days…I know you’ve done it too, we all have. You ever stopped and thought about why so many people often quit going to church or believing in Christ these days? Not even having anything related to God in their life! (Like most of main stream society today) I have, and the main reason I believe is that people think Christians are hypocrites. That stings, I know, but how many of us say one thing and do the other? I’m guilty at times, sure. Think back on the last few days of your life? Did you act or say one thing and do the other? Would your internet browser be a reflection on what you say you are? These are tough questions and I think we need to consider them. I’m sure there are areas where we all say we follow Jesus but our life tells a different story...Listen. You are not alone. Everyone has hypocritical moments because we’re all imperfect people who make mistakes. And when we are faithful to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, Jesus offers us grace freely.But living a hypocritical lifestyle? That’s a problem. Jesus had no patience for people who pretended to follow him without actually doing what he said. People don’t want to follow a hypocrite. But, on the flipside, people love following someone who does what they say they’ll do. So let’s not become a Pharisee, beating people down instead of lifting them up, showing off how “religious” we are to make ourselves look important, or leading people away from Jesus by saying one thing and doing another.Instead, let’s share the love of Jesus by showing the love of Jesus. Because one of the best ways to share Jesus is to live like Him. Er’body with me? Great, so let’s ask God for forgiveness for times when we’ve said one thing and done another. It means we should make a conscious effort to avoid hypocrisy. And it means knowing and doing what Jesus has told us to do.Be nice. Grace wins.