Here's how "Christians" are hypocrites!

[LostMarbels]

@drjean

I JLS, confess that Jesus is the word of God manifest in the flesh, is the one and only begotten son of God, born of a virgin, is The Christ, and the one and only true God.

You want to know if someone knows Jesus... ask them to confess him. It is that simple.

1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1Jn 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

So can you confess Jesus as the word manifest in the flesh and as your Christ?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Quite right HERE. HERE the site has it's own rules because of many issues, including welcoming people of faiths and not overloading their volunteer staff who cannot possible monitor etc each post.

But IRL we are to judge. We don't have to vocalize that judgment though Jesus did all the time. But the Spirit within us discerns, and those who are playing being Christian need admonition (and at the very least prayer!)

Open rebuke is better than [hidden] love. And rare.
Repent is the last command of Jesus in Scripture,
and it was the first one.
"Turn to YHVH and keep His Commandments" ..... almost .......
See, before Jesus started preaching, "Keep His Commandments" was always accepted by EVERYONE seeking YHVH.
Today it is too, by everyone seeking YHVH.
Today we realize that knowing this does not provide the remedy for sin. The TORAH did not and does not provide a way to be made right with YHVH except temporariliy, His Way.
So YHVH PROVIDED A SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST - HIS BLOOD shed once for all time provides HIS WAY, to a clear conscience in HIS PRESENCE TODAY ! (read Hebrews for those who don't have a clear conscience TODAY).
The rules (TORAH) did not change .
The high priest changed. The sacrifices of animals are no longer needed.
Jesus was sacrificed once for all. So men can keep the rules without guilt or shame (Jesus bore all the guilt and shame at the crucifixion).
Whoever is born again in Him LOVES TORAH ! And if we stumble, we have an advocate with the FATHER in heaven ! HE IS FOR US !

 

[salt-n-light]

I've read the Bible so many times, that for quite a long time I go days or even weeks without opening it because it's on my heart. I know the Bible. I spend my time in prayer and helping others these days whereas before it would be spent reading the Bible. So, the fact that I don't read the Bible much anymore doesn't make me "not" Christian. I have read it, understood it, and now I put it into practice. One doesn't need to constantly read the physical words when they ring out in your mind, heart and spirit, and flow from your good deeds, and cry out to God through your prayers.

Bible only fallacy.

It's like a professional that's been in the business for decades in comparison someone starting off. At some point, its a part of you, although sometimes, it's still good to go back and refresh or challenge yourself in the faith to not grow weary.

 

[Hearingheart]

John 13:34-35

Any judgment made within the body of Christ should be with the aim of restoration, edification and the building up of the body. Love is the key to all that ails us.

Christian's claim the bible as an authority and standard for their lives so the world sees Christians in this light. The goal is the walk uprightly and in the light of God's love as we fellowship together. Talk less, do more. It takes patience, practice and a willing heart. How we treat each other speaks volumes.

Can a Christian be a hypocrite? Sure they can. Does being a hypocrite mean someone is not a Christian? No.

 

[faroukfarouk]

John 13:34-35

Any judgment made within the body of Christ should be with the aim of restoration, edification and the building up of the body. Love is the key to all that ails us.

Christian's claim the bible as an authority and standard for their lives so the world sees Christians in this light. The goal is the walk uprightly and in the light of God's love as we fellowship together. Talk less, do more. It takes patience, practice and a willing heart. How we treat each other speaks volumes.

Can a Christian be a hypocrite? Sure they can. Does being a hypocrite mean someone is not a Christian? No.

Hearingheart: This is Godly advice. Sanctified patience, waiting for God to work out His Word in people's lives is a God-given virtue that is sorely needed.

 

[faroukfarouk]

It's like a professional that's been in the business for decades in comparison someone starting off. At some point, its a part of you, although sometimes, it's still good to go back and refresh or challenge yourself in the faith to not grow weary.

Going back to the source becomes a natural instinct, prayerfully.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Does being a hypocrite mean someone is not a Christian? No.

Yes.
It means saying you obey YHVH, ACTING LIKE you obey YHVH,
but obey the devil instead.
That means unsaved. Like the scribes and pharisees Jesus warned the disciples about very sternly.

 

[Wet Squirrel]

All these Apostles were fake then nobody of them even bothered to read bible through .

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

All these Apostles were fake then nobody of them even bothered to read bible through .

Which apostles? True that most on earth are fake - no question about that.
Jesus' Apostles are just as written in the BIBLE - one lost, the others became and were faithful and true and read TORAH every Sabbath in synagogue when they could, and preached SALVATION IN JESUS all the time, day and night, in season and out of season.

 

[Hearingheart]

Yes.
It means saying you obey YHVH, ACTING LIKE you obey YHVH,
but obey the devil instead.
That means unsaved. Like the scribes and pharisees Jesus warned the disciples about very sternly.

So, what to do with those pesky Christians who claim the blood of Jesus and still act in this way? Gee, maybe the body of Christ needs to act in unity and seriously think about discipleship and not birthing the babies before they are ready.
Any Christian who has made a decision for Christ and acts in a hypocritical way needs to be loved. Mature leadership within the body needs to strengthen and build up those who are struggling.
So my answer is still no, even a Christian can act as a hypocrite.

 

[faroukfarouk]

So, what to do with those pesky Christians who claim the blood of Jesus and still act in this way? Gee, maybe the body of Christ needs to act in unity and seriously think about discipleship and not birthing the babies before they are ready.
Any Christian who has made a decision for Christ and acts in a hypocritical way needs to be loved. Mature leadership within the body needs to strengthen and build up those who are struggling.
So my answer is still no, even a Christian can act as a hypocrite.

You know I agree a lot about not forcing professions and trying to do the Spirit's work. I do wonder about the 'instant response'; 'in 2 minutes it's the altar call' type of evangelism in 17 ½ minutes variety. Although it can happen in an instant, it can sometimes take years of patient sowing and praying for a person to be coaxed gently into a Spirit-led understanding of one's need and the effective work of Christ on the Cross. (It doesn't need some know-it-all missions operative to extract a whole bunch of "decisions" in one evening, so to speak.)

 

[dqhall]

Christians are hypocrites.

Well, let me rephrase that: people who are not Christian judge people who say they are Christian, as hypocrites.

And they're right!

Let me be clearer though: there are millions of people who call themselves "Christians" who are not and so they do not --in fact are not able to-- behave like true Christians. For this reason I limit my own use of the term "Christian"!

A TRUE Christian is one who follows Christ. This thread will examine examples of how someone who claims to be a Christian probably isn't. (Rather more like the theme... you might NOT be a Christian if...)

HOW is someone who says he/she is a Christian really just a hypocrite?

One example is reading the Bible, or rather NOT reading the Bible. To a true believer, the Bible is God's Word! GOD Himself, speaking to us. Wow. It gives us instruction and is a main way that God speaks to His creation. One cannot know God without reading His Word.
Some have called it " Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. "

Only 9% of those claiming to be Christians have read GOD's WORD through more than once!

You might not be a real Christian if you don't read God's Word!

View attachment 222731

I think you should read the Bible, if you want to learn about Jesus' salvation. That is mainly in the New Testament. It is possible for people to read and not remember, or read and not understand. It is also possible to read and not do. Someone said actions speak louder than words. It is possible for some to go to church and not read the Bible. It is possible to understand parts of the Bible without going to church. I read a man in CF confessing he and his family were just starting to read the Bible even though they had been going to church.

When I was in my 20's I started at the beginning and was into the book of Joshua and also stories of David that made me militant and mean. I was reading the Bible and living in ignorance. It was when I started to understand about the good Samaritan, the good shepherd, Jesus standing up to the chief priests and laying down his life for God that I began to become less hostile and sinful. God is more than this book. Wisdom is more than being able to recite John 3:16.

A hypocrite is a pretender; someone playing a part in a play or movie.

 

[Kenny'sID]

You might not be a real Christian if you don't read God's Word!

Oh, is that all? I was expecting so much more.

Have we ever had a "You might not be a Christian if" thread?

We aren't allowed to say a particular person here is not a christian but maybe a thread that just covers things in general would be ok.

As for the OP, yes, we should read the bible....how much? How much helping the poor/needy must we do in order to get to heaven? No set amount.

 

[Hearingheart]

You know I agree a lot about not forcing professions and trying to do the Spirit's work. I do wonder about the 'instant response'; 'in 2 minutes it's the altar call' type of evangelism in 17 ½ minutes variety. Although it can happen in an instant, it can sometimes take years of patient sowing and praying for a person to be coaxed gently into a Spirit-led understanding of one's need and the effective work of Christ on the Cross. (It doesn't need some know-it-all missions operative to extract a whole bunch of "decisions" in one evening, so to speak.)

So true, the Spirit is the one that brings conviction and we need to trust God when speaking to people about following Him. It is a huge, life changing decision and does not come without a price. I think part of the reason the body of Christ has so many immature, worldy babes is because of alter calls (at least in the US)

 

[Hearingheart]

Another thought.....someone who gives the appearance of being a hypocrite may just be fearful of not fitting in to a local body of believers and trying to mimic without having a foundation. There's a lot of fear in many churches.

 

[drjean]

Oh, is that all? I was expecting so much more.

Have we ever had a "You might not be a Christian if" thread?

We aren't allowed to say a particular person here is not a christian but maybe a thread that just covers things in general would be ok.

As for the OP, yes, we should read the bible....how much? How much helping the poor/needy must we do in order to get to heaven? No set amount.

That IS what this thread is!

I didn't begin with a list in the OP but there IS a list we are going through!

IMO you cannot be a Christian if you are a hypocrite. I say this semantically because IF you ARE a true Christian that means you ARE like Jesus, not perfect but following Him to your best. If you are truly doing this, then your words and actions match. A hypocrite's words and actions don't match.

 

[Gideons300]

Here are the excuses they found?

View attachment 222732 Hmmm There are 10080 minutes in a week. Why not try to take 5 of those each day and read God's Word to you?

I wonder if the "none of these" includes "I'm too lazy"? It could be though---they ARE illiterate? Anyone have stats on illiteracy in adults in America? The survey was done by phone.

I understand where you are coming from, but there is something we need to realize.

There are many sheep who have been led into pastures barely able to support life, let alone growth. These individuals may truly long to have obedient hearts, but like Paul in Romans 7, the things they truly want to do, they do not do. And the things they really want to avoid doing? They end up doing them....again and again. Forgiven perhaps, but not free.

We must be careful to not judge by outward appearances. I would put forth that there are plenty of people who read their Bibles every day who are the quintessential definition of a hypocrite.

The truth is, God looks at the thoughts and intents of the heart. Right now, there are multitudes who, inside, are crying out for God, our deliver, to deliver them from the grip of Romans 7. And sadly, they get no instructions as to how to do so, because those leading the flock do not know themselves.

Did the Pharisees read the Torah every day? You bet. But never were there bigger hypocrites than them. Pride is a terrible sin, but religious pride, the sanctimonious “Thank God I am not like those sinners” crowd, is the very hardest to break free from, for when one thinks they have all the answers, and there is no hunger, no brokenness, no cry from the heart “O wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me?”, blindness has gone to the deepest phase.

So what is a true hypocrite, at least concerning the reading of God’s word? One who knows what God is asking of us, to love Hm with ALL of our hearts, and to love even the unloveable as we love ourselves, but who is quite content to read and even memorize these verses, and never do them, or even want to. If a man falls into this category, but knows his walk is not what God has for him, e may too be a prisoner, but our God will move mountains in the days to come to see that they discover the secret of abiding in His presence every minute of every day, so that they can be fruit-filled and truly loving as God loves.

With that said, I pray no one here thinks I speak badly about the Bible and it’s reading. The Word of God is in essence a book of promises for us. Most of what happened in the Old Testament is a picture of something more important for us living under the new covenant, and happened for OUR benefit. I think, however, that our problem is far less reading the Word, but rather believing what it tells us. All that is soon about to change

Blessings to you sister, and I pray you do not think this post is an attack on what you shared. Far from it. Early on in my Christian walk, almost every soul came to church with well marked, well worn Bibles. Those days for the most part are long gone, at least for now.

I pray with you that God will restore a love for His Word, but not as a requirement, or something we “need” to do. If it is not something we long to do, to feast on, we can read till the cows come home and it will sadly profit us nothing.

Blessings to you.

Gideon

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

So, what to do with those pesky Christians who claim the blood of Jesus and still act in this way? Gee, maybe the body of Christ needs to act in unity and seriously think about discipleship and not birthing the babies before they are ready.
Any Christian who has made a decision for Christ and acts in a hypocritical way needs to be loved. Mature leadership within the body needs to strengthen and build up those who are struggling.
So my answer is still no, even a Christian can act as a hypocrite.

A baby Christian often acts/lives/ behaves BETTER than so-called other "Christians" who may be called 'mature' but have gone astray.
Religion often (every day) misleads people, on purpose, for 'numbers' , 'power' and 'money' under the prince of the power of the air as written in Ephesians and Revelation.
EVERYONE born again by the Will of ABBA YHVH IS in union with Jesus and the other true born again ones abiding, living, and walking IN UNION with JESUS and the FATHER. NOT everyone on earth who calls themselves anything is what they say. (almost no one is what they say ).

 

[faroukfarouk]

So true, the Spirit is the one that brings conviction and we need to trust God when speaking to people about following Him. It is a huge, life changing decision and does not come without a price. I think part of the reason the body of Christ has so many immature, worldy babes is because of alter calls (at least in the US)

@Hearingheart
You know I very strongly agree. I am indeed grateful that Billy Graham was used as a mouthpiece to many. To be brutally honest I don't think we are bound by the methods of the BG Evangelistic Assoc. Sowing and praying and patiently and gently coaxing family and friends can be a long exercise of heart for many years; and sometimes we ourselves might not see the results in our lifetime, in some cases. It takes faith and self-discipline to realize that we are not here to do the Spirit's work for Him.

 

[Kenny'sID]

That IS what this thread is!

I didn't begin with a list in the OP but there IS a list we are going through!

IMO you cannot be a Christian if you are a hypocrite. I say this semantically because IF you ARE a true Christian that means you ARE like Jesus, not perfect but following Him to your best. If you are truly doing this, then your words and actions match. A hypocrite's words and actions don't match.

We don't really disagree on anything here.