Hypocrites

We continue to reflect on excerpts from my book FEAR-PROOF as we study the Mental component of our Wheel of Life.  As our thoughts go, so goes our life…

“Hypocrites in the Church?  Yes, and in the lodge and at the home.  Don’t hunt through the Church for a hypocrite.  Go home and look in the mirror.  Hypocrites?  Yes.  See that you make the number one less.”  ~Billy Sunday

Over the years, on more than one occasion, I’ve heard people use the following excuse of why they do not believe in God; “I don’t want to be like all those hypocritical church people.

I tried using this excuse on a pastor friend of mine many years ago and his response-“Hmm, Jay, if hypocrites are standing between you and God, then who is standing closer to God?”

Ouch!

The devil will use anything he can to get in our way of getting closer to God…even hypocrites, which often come in the form of you and me.  I love the quote by Billy Sunday, above.  We all have a tendency of being hypocritical from time to time.

The beginning of an authentic, personal relationship with Jesus is when we admit we aren’t perfect but know that we are badly broken and have lots of work to get done on ourselves. When this happens we have no time to notice the speck in our brother or sister’s eye.

Show me a person who can tell you what is wrong with everybody else and I will show you a person who is being played like a fiddle by the devil!

Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV), “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?  How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Additional Scripture to read and reflect upon:  1 John 4:20, James 1:26, Matthew 15:7-9

What beliefs, thoughts and actions cause you to struggle with being a hypocrite?

P.E.A.C.E.

Jay@EagleLaunch.com