Cheeseburgers and Hypocrisy

Years ago at the annual meeting of The American Heart Association, 300,000 doctors, nurses, and researchers met in Atlanta. One topic they discussed was the importance a low fat diet plays in keeping our hearts healthy. Yet during meal times, these doctors and nurses at just as many bacon cheeseburgers and fries as people from other conventions. One cardiologist was asked whether his Quarter-pounder with cheese and super.-sized fries set a bad example, he said, "Not me, because I took my name tag off."

It is possible to claim the name of Christ, but wear that name only at certain times and places. Hypocrisy can cover up my identity.

Here are four signs of hypocrisy that come from Genesis 38:

1.       I put myself in situations that make obedience more difficult. That means I go places I know I shouldn’t go. I hang out with people who influence me the wrong way. I do things that only lead closer to temptation instead of away from it.

2.       I make promises I don’t intend to keep. The promise might be as simple as “I’ll pray for you” and “I won’t share this with anyone else” or commitments as important as “For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”

3.       I minimize my sinful choices. I do that with excuses such as: “God knows I’m weak,” “I can’t help myself,” “The devil made me do it,” “Everybody’s doing it,” “There are way worse things,” “No one will ever know.”

4.       I condemn others without a trial. I do that by reacting with anger, accusations, judgment, without hearing all the facts. I making myself the judge; feel superior; refuse to show grace; and not consider my own sin.

When I see these any of these things in my life, I’m a hypocrite. I need to confess and find mercy. When I admit my hypocrisy and turn from it, the beautiful thing is that God works through people who confess their messed-up-ness to him