Don’t Be a Hypocrite

Romans 12:9,10

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to
one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

When I was in college 50 years ago, the intellectual world was confronted by a Christian author and philosopher who toured the country lecturing to large crowds on how our culture was awash in post modern relativistic thinking that had turned the definitions of right and wrong upside down.

He contended that the rejection of absolute truth and replacing it with whatever an individual feels is right will lead to the downfall of society, the destruction of the culture that was built around a reverence for God.

Does that problem sound familiar today?

Yes, he saw it coming back then and wanted the church to be alert to this attack on the nature of truth and the Bible. He had great impact on Christians with a video series, “How Should We Then Live?”

But after his death, his children revealed that the way he treated his family was far from loving. They saw him as a hypocrite, someone who acted one way when the public was watching but different behind closed doors. He looked like a Christian outside of the home, but was described as being angry and unkind to his children.

To be a follower of Jesus means we determine that we will hate evil and hold on fast to what is good. He seemed to have gotten that right in public. But we are also to be kindly and affectionate to one another, especially our family members so that they see us as one who acted like Jesus to them.

What do you want to be remembered by?

Sure you have made mistakes, but have you humbly confessed them to your family and asked their forgiveness?

I don’t mean just say you’re sorry. I mean ask them if they will forgive you of your wrong. Only then can you move on to try and do what God has called you for, to be an influence on them that will lead them to the Savior.

They are watching you and trying to determine if you are genuine and if you can be trusted to show love.

At the end of my life I don’t want to be thought of as a hypocrite, but as one who hated evil, held fast to what is good, and treated others with love like Jesus, especially members of my family.