Avoiding Hypocrisy

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach (Matthew 23:1-3).”There is a disease in our churches today and it has the potential to spread if not treated properly. It’s called hypocrisy. Now before you go pointing fingers we must consider our own lives. When we tell our children to “do as I say not what I do” we are basically hypocrites. You can know proper teachings, share God’s word with power, and quote bible scriptures as if you were the author but if your life doesn’t exemplify what you say then you too suffer with the disease of hypocrisy.Some of the most eloquent speakers can struggle with the very things that God instructs not to do. They may not be perfect, however, if they are preaching and teaching the truth, we are expected to do it. In Matthew 23:1-3 Jesus addresses this subject directly. He spoke to the crowds and disciples with that very message. The teachers, those put in the place of leadership are teaching what is right however they are not practicing what they preach. Are they watering down the gospel? Some would say yes but if they’re teaching the truth it’s up to each individual to respond in obedience.Yes, there is a disease in our churches but we can eradicate it by being doers of the word, holding fast to the teachings of Christ. It is the truth of God’s word through persistence, perseverance, attitude and action, acts of kindness and mercy that is worth spreading!“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1).”