Posted on 08/04/2015 3:14:17 AM PDT by rhema
Without a doubt, we — the church and its congregants — have hurt our witness to the world with our hypocrisy, thereby undercutting our moral and spiritual authority. Why should people listen to us if we preach one thing and do another? How can we expose sin in the society when we’re practicing sin in the church? On what basis can we speak out against same-sex “marriage” when we’ve allowed our own marriages to go to pot?
The pedophile priest scandal in the Catholic Church not only inflicted terrible suffering on the boys who were abused, but it also terribly damaged the reputation of the Vatican — greatly weakening its influence in many parts of the world.
The flood of scandals in the evangelical church, both sexual and financial, have made us a laughingstock. So much so that many Americans simply assume that the more famous the TV preacher or pastor, the more certain it is that he or she is getting rich off the gospel, not to mention probably hiding some secret sexual sin. Of course, the vast majority of evangelical pastors and leaders are not rich, not famous and not guilty of secret sexual sin. However, this proves there are enough bad apples to make all the apples suspect.
We can’t blame the world for not taking us seriously when so much of our own house is not in order. The finger can only be pointed at ourselves. With humble hearts we need to say, “Although we thank God for the multitude of godly men and women serving the Lord faithfully (and even sacrificially) across America, we have been plagued by hypocrisy and scandals, and we need to lead the way in repentance and ask for forgiveness, both from God and from people.”
That’s why I’ve said for years now that no-fault, heterosexual divorce in the church has done more to undermine marriage than all gay activists combined, and that’s why I’m all for any true spiritual movement that calls us to recognize, confess and forsake our sins by the grace of God and the power of Jesus’ blood.
Repentance blames no one else and makes no excuses. Instead, it takes full responsibility and makes an about face receiving mercy and restoration from the Father.
Interestingly, the world’s outrage against our hypocrisy suggests that the world actually expects us to be different as followers of Jesus, meaning people expect us to be living godly lives. They expect us to be caring for the poor and needy. They expect us to have a different set of values.
And so, while worldly people may hate us for those very values, they expect us to live by them.
What people fail to realize is that the right response to hypocrisy is not to sanction the sins of the world or lower the standards of the church. The right response is to change our ways, put an end to our hypocrisy, re-establish our high standards and call the society as a whole to repent.
In other words, the right response to hypocrisy is not to say, “Because we’ve had a plague of pornography in the church, we’ll drop out of the culture wars,” Or, “Because we’ve had so many scandalous divorces, we’ll drop our opposition to same-sex ‘marriage.’”
No! Why in the world would we do that? Why would we sanction our neighbor’s sin because we too were guilty of sin?
The right response is to repent of our own sin and then to call our neighbor to repent of his or her sin.
The right response is to say, “From here on, I turn from my sinful ways, and I urge you to turn from yours.”
Somehow people think that because we have been hypocritical at times that the solution is to drop all opposition to sinful behaviors. But that makes no sense at all.
If I am engaging in the destructive behavior of alcoholism, but I’m encouraging you to break your drug addiction, then the right response to my hypocrisy is not to say, “I’m OK, you’re OK.” To the contrary, the right response is for me to get help for my alcoholism and to continue to encourage you to get help for your drug addiction.
Could you imagine a doctor saying to the patient, “We’re ashamed to say this, but while we’ve been treating you for cancer, we’ve completely overlooked your serious heart condition. So to make things right we’ll stop treating the cancer”?
Of course not. In the same way, we don’t stop exposing the sin of the world (or, worse still, condone the sin of the world, or even worse, celebrate the sin of the world), because we’ve had sin in the church.
Instead, we get our own house in order so we can help the world get its house in order. Obviously, the best way we can help people straighten out their lives is by pointing them to Jesus and by setting godly examples.
Thankfully, there are millions of sincere believers who have been living consistent lives and shining as lights in the dark, and they should go on shining brightly and clearly without shame or hesitation.
But where we have been hypocritical, let us acknowledge it, let us renounce it and let us redouble our efforts to stand for what is right in God’s sight, in both the church and in the society.
In other words, the right response to hypocrisy is not to say, “Because we’ve had a plague of pornography in the church, we’ll drop out of the culture wars,” Or, “Because we’ve had so many scandalous divorces, we’ll drop our opposition to same-sex ‘marriage.’”
We need Apostles now - not showmen or politicians. The faith of our Lord is needed now more than ever to heal the world.
I’m not sure I accept the premise here. You are not allowed to say anything against homosexual marriage unless your own marriage is perfect in every way?? You are not allowed to talk about sin unless your own life has no sin??? You can’t counsel someone about drug problems if you drink alcoholic drinks or have had drinking problems???
Based on the premise put forth, then nobody can say anything about any issue, or any other sinful or unethical behavior, because our own lives are not perfect to begin with. I reject that reasoning. Anyone else agree???
Continue the call for “repentance” and “conversion” to Christ.
This article simply reminds us that the above call is a life long effort.
Not surprised that we Christians are under persecution here and around the world. Did not the Bible say that judgement first is going to come to the “House of the Lord?”
No, rather it is call for ALL of us to continue repentence and conversion.
I had a friend in AA tell me that early in his sobriety he told his sponsor that he was reading the book I’M OKAY, YOU’RE OKAY. His sponsor said “You can’t read that.”
He asked “Why not?”
His sponsor replied “Because you’re not okay.”
Often truth is short and brutal.
Oscar Wilde said, “Hypocrisy is the honor vice pays to virtue.” The left believes in neither so can never be accused of that sin that which utterly discredits. How convenient for the left.
What??! I don't know where you're getting that premise from. That's exactly what his author is arguing explicitly against.
Could you imagine a doctor saying to the patient, “We’re ashamed to say this, but while we’ve been treating you for cancer, we’ve completely overlooked your serious heart condition. So to make things right we’ll stop treating the cancer”? Of course not. In the same way, we don’t stop exposing the sin of the world (or, worse still, condone the sin of the world, or even worse, celebrate the sin of the world), because we’ve had sin in the church.
Instead, we get our own house in order so we can help the world get its house in order. ... by pointing them to Jesus and by setting godly examples.
And so, while worldly people may hate us for those very values, they expect us to live by them.
Fundamentally even the world knows Christians are suppose to be different. We're suppose to be "like Christ." Living lives striving to be holy. As disciples following his example. It is the number one reason non-Christians reject Christ. Because they are not willing to let go of the leadership of their lives, give up sinful nature etc. And the second most common reason is because they see fake Christians (tares) and they don't want any part of the hypocrisy.
I agree with you. The moral law is the moral law, regardless of whether you or I obey it ... and nobody, even those who are trying hardest, perfectly obey it.
When I say, “Fornication is wrong,” or “Sodomy is wrong,” or “Theft is wrong,” I’m not passing a personal judgment or offering a private opinion. I’m simply repeating the consistent teaching of my religious faith, most other religious faiths, and even many people who profess no religion.
“The pedophile priest scandal in the Catholic Church not only inflicted terrible suffering on the boys who were abused, . . ‘
Massive public anger was focused on the Roman Catholic Church as a result of allegations sexual abuse of young people by priests as well as accusations of cover-ups by the hierarchy. Unfortunately, much of the anger was misdirected:
The vast majority of abuse by priests who victimize persons under the age of 18 has taken the form of ephebophilia — involving post-pubertal youths who are often 16 or 17 years of age.
Yet most of the public has the impression that most of the abuse is pedophilia— involving young, pre-pubertal children.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/sex_devia.htm
Homosexual priests committed these acts. The screening for admittance to seminary is very detailed and if homosexual tendencies are found, the man will NOT be accepted as a candidate for the priesthood.
Show that that statement is true in application.
My understanding is the “rules” are specific about “practicing “ homosexuality..... it gets blurred regarding the “tendency” to have homosexual traits.
The evil one has raised up so many flashy avenues for pleasing the old man, designed to distract us from the leadership of The indwelling Holy Spirit of Promise God puts in the human spirit at the moment we are born from above. [For graphic illustration of the Grace process of instant Conversion, see Acts 2 and Acts 10:38-45]
And those distractions come at us from all directs, including the religious systems. And it is successful in first eroding then corroding, then rotting, as so clearly illustrated with the Episcopal church.
I am so sorry, but I am right when you think of it.
Sudden and dramatic conversions that you refer too, scripture wise, are the exception, not the rule.
Repentence and conversion is a LIFELONG process, day in, day out.
Sudden and dramatic conversions that you refer too, scripture wise, are the exception, not the rule.
...”Many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to ‘about five thousand’...Acts 4:4
....”about three thousand were added to their number that day”.....Acts 2:41
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