As Others See It.

"If that is the way Christians act, then I don't want to
be a Christian." You have likely heard this many times
and may have given tacit consent to the thought, having
strong distaste for hypocrisy in religion.

There is no denying that followers of Christ should so
live as to attract rather then repel; and we make no
excuse for those lights who have gone out, or salt that
has lost its savor. But one who uses the "if that is the
way ..." excuse is also "copping out" of responsibility.

Christianity, in its true sense, is not determined by
what any person, high and noble or low and vile, does or
says about it. "The Church", even in its purest stage, is
the product of Christianity, not the mother of it. God
has not abdicated His throne, nor Christ his divinely
appointed roles. God distributes the "rule" (inspired
truth) which reaches all alike. (2 Corinthians 10:12)

If I mislead someone by my conduct or teaching, I must
answer for this in judgment (1 Corin. 3:12-15), but my
sin is not his righteousness. He is not released from
his obligation to God because I failed to meet my
obligations.

Are we to assume that the one who is disgusted by
hypocrites has no need for forgiveness? If he knows
what Christianity is NOT, does he know what it IS,
and refuses to conform? Or, has he confused "good
moral life" with Christianity? True followers of
Christ are morally upright, but they know they
cannot trust in themselves for justification. Freely
acknowledging their need for forgiveness they trust
in Jesus Christ for mercy and redemption. One has
not learned the real meaning of Christianity until
he so learns Christ.

And we do not learn Christ by studying the faults of
others. We must turn our attention from the disciples
and center it on the Master. - Robert Turner

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for
this is right." (Ephesians 6:1)